Clearing the air

Finally, someone's put an end to the 'it's only a small minority of people' theory.

Those in the minority on the smoking ban issue (i.e. those opposed to the smoking ban) like to complain that 'a small minority' are pushing their agenda on the rest of us proud Ahmurrrikans.

Well, the State Journal-Register in Springfield actually asked people.

And guess what they found? A majority of Illinoisans favor a statewide smoking ban in all indoor places, including bars and restaurants.

Argue sampling error and poll bias all you want. The results are pretty conclusive:

Fifty-four percent of those responding to the poll supported a comprehensive statewide smoking ban, 39 percent were opposed and 7 percent were undecided.

Those polled were asked: "Do you support or oppose a comprehensive statewide ban on smoking in all indoor public places, including workplaces, restaurants and bars?"

The idea was supported by a majority of people of all political stripes. Among Republicans, 56 percent said they wanted a smoking ban. Fifty-one percent of independents favored the ban, while 53 percent of men and 55 percent of women and Democrats were for it.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Washington conducted the poll of 625 registered voters Sept. 19-21. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.

If you want to argue that 54 percent in favor of a statewide ban isn't much or a majority, then explain how only 39 percent is a strong minority.

Further, although the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association is still whining that a ban will hurt bars' bottom line, there is little evidence of that.

Those in favor of a ban point to research that shows no overall decline in sales tax revenue from the hospitality industry when there is a smoking ban. They argue that bar and restaurant employees should not have to contend with secondhand smoke, especially when most white-collar office workers do not.

They also point to a surgeon general's report this year that said tens of thousands of people die each year from secondhand smoke and that it is a cause of heart disease, lung cancer and other illnesses.

Is is possible that we'll get a statewide smoking ban any time soon? I kinda doubt it. Illinois politicians are historically spineless when it comes to issues that help only people rather than businesses. Besides, the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association has a lot of money to throw around in Springfield, and right or wrong, that kind of money can influence a legislator a lot quicker than, say, the thought of improving the health of thousands of registered voters.

A statewide smoking ban cleared a House committee last winter but has never gotten a vote in either chamber of the General Assembly. Drea [Kathy Drea, public policy director for the American Lung Association of Illinois and Iowa] hopes a ban will get a vote when the new General Assembly is sworn in in January.

"It's a non-election year, so it'll be more positive for a vote," she said. "(The ban in) Springfield was so important because all of the legislators live here six months out of the year. They will be able to see people still go out, still want to be with their friends."

We can only hope.

And so it goes.