South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative

Smoke Free

Do you want to breathe clean air at work?

Stop holding your breath! Check out the facts and myths and then feel free to jump right into the campaign!

Facts & Myths

Facts

- Restaurant and bar workers have the lowest level of protection against secondhand smoke, a deadly pollutant that contains over 4,000 chemicals and at least 69 carcinogens.

- Employees of restaurants are exposed to secondhand smoke levels 160 to 200% higher than those employed in typical office workplaces while bar employees are exposed to secondhand smoke levels at least three times higher than restaurant workers.

- Restaurant and bar workers are at least 50% more likely to die of lung cancer than employees in other fields.

- While workers in other industries receive protection against secondhand smoke, restaurant and bar workers in most states and municipalities do not.

Myths

Contrary to the claims of those who oppose equal protection for restaurant and bar workers:

• Smoke-free laws and policies do not cause restaurants to lose business.
• Ventilation systems do not adequately protect workers and patrons from secondhand smoke.
• And, the free market approach does not offer a fair solution for the food service industry.

Comprehensive Ordinances Mean Healthier Employees

In fact, studies show that implementing a smoke free policy has an immediate and significant impact on the health of employees.

For example:
Within the first two months that Scotland implemented a comprehensive national ban that included bars and restaurants, nonsmoking bar workers reported:

• decreases in respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing,
• improved lung function,
• reduction in inflammation and sensory symptoms like eye and throat irritation.
• employees with asthma reported a significant improvement in the quality of their life.

Studies in California and Ireland support these findings. Learn more here.

Share Your Story

Share your experience with secondhand smoke in the workplace or your reasons for wanting a smoke-free workplace. For example: Are you tired of your clothes smelling like smoke? Would you like to quit smoking but your work environment makes it too difficult? Do you or a co-worker suffer from asthma?

Please email us your story.