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With New Indoor Air Law “Let’s Face It” Campaign Begins

With the start of the new year and a new indoor air law, the St. Louis County Department of Health (DOH) is calling on residents and businesses to come together to face the challenge of tobacco head-on.

A new “Let’s Face It” initiative can help people quit using tobacco, keep youth from taking up tobacco in the first place, and help spread the word about the benefits of going smoke-free.

“I am proud to live in a community that is so committed to addressing the challenge of tobacco,” said Dolores Gun, director of County Health Department.  “I think we can all agree that when our residents enjoy the healthiest, best quality of life possible – and there are policies and attitudes in place that support – we all benefit.”

To kick off the “Let’s Face It” initiative and celebrate the county’s new Clean Indoor Air Law, that went into effect on Jan. 2 residents, business owners, anti-smoking health advocates and local officials  gathered Sunday (the first day of the new law) at two locations:  the Post Sports Bar & Grill in Maplewood and Applebee’s in Creve Coeur.

At Applebee’s, Creve Coeur City Councilwoman Beth Kistner  joined with the Bergman family and other families to dine in a truly family-friendly environment. Kistner introduced the more stringent Creve Coeur smoke-free ordinance. The Bergman’s two high-school age daughters, Haley and Anna, are members of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT).  One year ago, they participated in a “sit-in” event at this same Applebee’s, when SWAT kids filled the entire smoking section, providing patrons with a smoke-free atmosphere for several hours.

Football fans joined with members of Tobacco Free St. Louis, county officials and others with Post Sports Bar & Grill  owner Adrian Glass and outgoing County Council Chairwoman Barbara Fraser on Sunday to celebrate the new indoor air law. Frazier led the efforts to place the issue on ballot.

Glass was  excited about what the new Clean Indoor Air Law will mean for his patrons.  Said Glass, ” I don’t believe our business will be negatively affected.  In fact, based on my experience in other smoke-free communities, I think we’ll see our area really embrace a smoke-free environment.”

Added Glass “We are grateful that our employees no longer be exposed to the smoke seven days a week.”

With the enactment of the new law, St Louis City and County joined more than 3,000 municipalities in the U.S. with local laws limiting where smoking is allowed.  St. Louis City also went smoke free on Jan. 2 at the majority of  its restaurants.

The Saint Louis region is one of the worst in the nation for asthma and Missouri has one of the highest death rates from tobacco-related illnesses in the country.  Missouri ranks 48th in funding for programs to help smokers quit and to keep kids from taking up smoking.  Additionally, Missouri’s 17 cents-per-pack cigarette tax is the lowest in the nation (the national per-pack average cigarette tax is $1.45).

“What’s important in the face of these sobering statistics is that we’re making a commitment to change,” said Dr. Gunn. “We are asking the entire community to get involved in helping Saint Louis fulfill its promise of being a  healthy place.

North County communities including Florissant, Bridgeton, Ferguson and Hazelwood are included in the smoking ban. Some small bars that sell less than 25 percent of total sales in food can be exempt, if they apply to St. Louis County.

The “Let’s Face It” initiative will be a sustained community-wide effort to:

• Provide resources, tools, and encouragement to those who want to quit.

•  Provide further education about second-hand smoke, and why it is so important to minimize exposure.

• Engage residents and businesses to act as positive forces in moving toward a smoke-free environment. Fore more visit thier new website:  www.letsfaceitstl.com.

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