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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0013.090 2002-2004 FROM TRRCIE Y. FRX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:28PM P2 REC~ ;I ~ Hawaii Island Tobacco-Free pert Yess h~P 25 May 14, 2003 tour, - ; ; COUNTY ;,l=lHi,1NAU Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni 5ueet Hilo, HI 96720 Via fax: 961-8912 Aear Councilmembers: The Hawaii Island Tobacco-Free Partnership would like to say mahalo for yow efforts on Bill 260 regarding smoke-free workplaces by voting to pass it out of committee. You have taken the first step in providing healthier and cleaner work envirotunents for all workers. You may have already sern our letter to the editor in today's Ilawai iTribune-Herald, and we wanted to personally send a letter thanking you for your dedication and work on this issue. As you could see from the large showing of support at the hearing and the significant amount of written testimony, the community supports this initiative. Additionally, according to the latest Healthy Hawaii Initiative evaluation survey of the Big Island, 72.4 percent of people on the Big Island support smoke-free restaurants and bars. This information is provided in the attached study. A USA Taday survey found 70% of Americans avoid going to bars and lounges, 59% avoid nightclubs, and 48% avoid restaurants specifically BECAUSE they want to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke. Some business owners are concerned about possible business losses if this bill passes. All the studies that have examined the effect of smoke-free workplace ordinances on such tneasurable factors as tax revenues or hotel occupancy have found no negative impact on businesses. In addition, by applying the law to all businesses including bars, this provides a "level playing field" s~ that one type of business does not operate under different conditions than all the others. When applied across the board, restaurants and bars in other places azound the cotmtry have not experienced a drop in their business in the long run. Patrons continue to frequent their favorite spots because they enjoy the food, drinks, company, and setting, not because it is a place they can smoke. Currently, states such as California and Delaware have entirely smoke-free workplaces, including restaurants and bars. Other states are in the process of implementing and passtrtg new laws, such as New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and. Maine. Internationally, Ireland, New Zealand and Norway aze executing smoke-free laws in their bars by mid-2004. Additionally, there are over 75 other US municipalities (including counties and cities) that also have laws creating smoke-free bars. These include big cities such as New York and Boston, but also include many smaller cities, towns, and counties, similar to the Big Island. It is important to remember that this is a workplace safety bill. It is meant to protect the health and welfare of workers and the public who visits these workplaces - including offices, restaurants, and other public places. We take strong measures to protect people against asbestos, lead paint, carbon monoxide, and many other cancer causing and environments! factors because of the potential harm Page 1 oft 13.go Comm. No. Ref. To: ~ Ref. Date FROM TRRCIE Y. FqX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:29PM P3 they can cause. We should do no less when it comes to the dangers of secondhand smoke, a Group A carcinogen. The good news is that going smoko-free costs businesses nothing to implement, and in fact, can save businesses money in reduced health-care related costs and decreased cleaning and maintenance costs. Going smoke-free is good for business and good for health---a win, win situation. Our Partnership will eagerly continue to work with you in educating the community and businesses on secondhand smoke, the benefits ofsmoke-free environments and Bi11260. We urge you to continue along the path you have started on and pass this bill, including protection far both restaurants and bars, at the full council meetings in the next few weeks. Thank you for all your hard work to date. Sincerely yours, Trade Yoshimoto Chris 1)ein-Gaughen Coordinator, East Hawaii Coordinator, West Hawaii Cellular. 896-1670 Phone: 938-6622 Phone: 965-0663 enclosure: "Effects of smoke-free restaurants legislation on attitues towards smoke-free restaurants and bars." Jason E. Maddock, Claudio R Nigg & Jodi D. Barnett, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Pale 2 of 2 FROM TRRCIE Y. FqX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:29PM P4 MESi 14 03 04: SOP ACS 52490i~ P.1 Effects of smokc-free restaurant IegisBarion nn snitudrs towards smoke-free rezt:,urants and bars. Jusun E. Muddoc:6., Claudia K. Nigt; K Jodi D. Aurnrtt f;nivcrsity of f lawaii ut Manoa The ct1'ects of serond-hand smokc arc widely known and by the end oC2002, 41 Communities in the US had bartned smokng in restaurants only, while 81 US commumti~y had Mnnat smoking in both restaurants and burst^. Many municipnlitics prix restaur;utaonly ordiranccs bcctusc passing a comprchcnsn'. nst:uarant and 1~ir erd:nancc may not be possible at that time given the current palitieal elimnte and public support. However-1~ttfe is known about cnanees in public support rollowing the implementation of a resiaur.~.at•only ordinance. Wa conducted :wo random digit dial crpss_wet(Un.tl surveillance surveys in the titate of Hnwaii. The firs; was conducted during February and M:treh of 2002. The second was conducted during Stptembcr and Oecober of 2002. SarrtplC siren were 4,706 for time. point I and 0,555 for time point Z. Data was weiglued by county artd gender. A smokc-free resteurant..only ordinance waz enaett:(S on July 1, 200: in Honplulu County home to o~cr 80%b of the slate's population. At txtth time points, respondent. wero :caked three qucscions about titcir perceptions on secondhand smoke: 1. Second-hand smoke hsrms non-smokers; 2. it i. pK io: peopla ;o smoke indoors grad; 3. All restaurants and bars in fiuwaii should tx smokc free. Re>ponxs were coded on a Liken ualc Item 1 - Sln,ngly disultrcc to ~ - Strongly agree. lndcpendcnt samples t-tests and chi-.aquarc. wc~ used to analyse the data. FROM TRRCIE Y. FqX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:30PM PS May 14 03 04:50p flC5 5'49072 p•d 3csults showed anon-sisnilicant increase ir, smoking status from 16.5°k to 18.0% (v' 3.8, n.x.). Attitudes rowards ymokc-free bus and rc+ttauruntx imprvrud significantly among the cntin population and esprdally ttmong smokcn. Frcm wave 1 to wave 2, 11.5°1° more smokers agreed that all restaurants and bars in Httwaii xhould he smoke-&ee. Results nn attitudes towardu second-hand smoke harming non-smokers and aeccptabilily toward., smoking indoors dtd not change or moved wwards morn acceptance od'sntoking. Changes it atthvdcx were similar for all counties esecpt Maui Gounty. which ssw no changes in attitudes towards smoka~ftec bah and rtstaurantc. Results artl dssplayed in table 1. Frtac;meet of a cot:ntylevcl reswurant-only clean indoor air ordinance coincided with an incn•:tsc in support far a sYatcwidr clean indoor air ordinance covc;ting n11 ban and restaurants. Changes in attitudes t+3rere particularly dramatic among cuncnt smokers. This daW provides preliminary data that passage of restaurant-only ordinances may imprvvc public anirudes !'or futu[e regulation.: ofelesn indoor air in bars. Payxage of as ordinance in orn: county many also have an effect on publit perception in ttcighborinb counties. However, the effect of these ordinances is narrow• and dots not appear to effect the perception of she huger issue ofsecond-!rand smoke. FROM TRRCIE Y. FRX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:30PM P6 l1e~ 14 03 t74;51p HC6 ~ 52490'2 p.3 Rcf~~t•cncrs 1. U.S. fhpanmcnt tlf 1',ealth and Human ticrviccs. Reducing '1'obuccu G'se: A Report of ~hc .Sur.~~eun Grnrarl. n[lanla. Cioorgia: U.S. !.)upuamcm of I ieafth and Human Scrviaes. Centers for Di,case Con4rol antl Nrevention, , Nation:d l enter fur Chronic Oiscase Prevention and E lealth Promotion. Offitr nn Smtlking and Health. ?U00. 2. American Non-Smokers Rig}tls Foundation. ~~iainnlitie:: with t 60"i, clew) indcx+r djY-gtQu1;>-n4's~. Axcsstd unl'tne at:..~1v.no-.cmn?.'~.nfL. January It?. ^_002. FROM TRACIE Y. FRX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:31PM P7 Hay !4 03 04: 51p FlL"S ~ ~ G249072 p•4 1 able 1: Attitudes towuds CICan indoor air, bC70tC and after Cnuciment of a restaurant only clam, indoorair;ict. r'--------~Wavt; 1 Sprin>A Wavc Z -Fall 2002 ~ t-test d lI ~ 2002 I ~ ' I_ ~ M {SD) % agree M ($D) _ °io a ree _ All ~rtici ynts All restaurantsattd 3.81{1,33) rtitS.64'° 4.01(t.48) 72.9% t(919i)~11 j btvs in i~l~waii f~ 5.51. < should be smoke ~ ~ ~ I t p ft is okay (orprnP'-- ,c ~I 70{t,~g) 18?0/~1.74 (1?8) 117.7°r° gt6s = 03 smoke indoors I ~ -1.75, ns ~ I Second hand smoke , 4.6! (0.9$} ~ 91.1°.~° 4.50 (t.t>) ~ g7.n"/o , t{9122) - ~ -.I I harms non-smokcK i ~ _ j.0(1, p':.OOI j Smokers only I Allratavrantsand~ 2.76(t.(i1)' 3ti,R% ~ 3.IG(1.69) 4A.3%i t(1599) - ~,ZS ,bats in Hawaii I ~ 4.78, p < sl+ontd br smoke ~ 001, d !_froc + It is okay for people 2.41 (L39) 38.!°J° 12.33 (L52) 34,2°i6 ~ t(1566j z - OS to smoke indoors _ 099, ns j j Second hand smoke 4.30 { 1.17) g3.2°h~ 4.24 (1.28j 80.9'/1545) -.OS ~ httrmA non•stnokers ~ _ 1 0.96, ns FROM TRRCIE Y. FRX N0. 808 965 0556 May. 14 2003 99:31 PM P8 Mai !"~^9 04:SIp FlCS 5£i8072 p.5 "fable 2: L•'il'octs of the Smoko-Fnc ardinat>Ce by County ~ 2003 ~ y Wave I-Spring I Wpva 2- F;+11 2002 r-~cst d _ -All panicipanu: All rc3tourants and bars in the state should be smoke--fret. Kaual_ '---~?.87(I.Ss) G7.5%~~4..'A(1.4G) 74,1~'o t(?!)94)-r~ ~Y-$~y i ( i ~ ~.3.S,pa ! I ~ I ' .001 i__ ~ 1 ~ ~ , Hon ~ulu ~ 3.85 (1.53) T G6.S/oT~01 (I.4G) ~ 73,4% t(21 17) - ,10 o I 3.81 (l.53) { G6.U% 4.0~ (1.49) j',~ 7°'0 ~ t(2389) .14 ; ~ I ~ .n Maui I ~93ti1.>1) 1 70.3% i ~,yV(1.51)~ J1.3%i i(:G311 i.03 ~ 10.9, ns ~ timnk~~ Only All tc~taurunu and ban in rhr state should be smoke-fret. ~ rKauai i 2.9R (1.68) ~ 40.6% 3.:5 (1.73) j S1.S°/a , t(365) = 17 I ! •LG, ns ; ( I !Hawaii ; 2.R7(f,g3) 39.3°io 3.t5(].4G) X5(!.0"/eTt(4l7)- ,18-~ 1,7.ns Honolulu 2.70(!.591 35.0?/° 3,17(1.77) .48.7% it (393)_-2.R, 3~ ~j, j <.O1 ~ Maui 12.41 (1.G7) 143.3°/ +~(1.G5) +•tG.8%~ t(4$$)=.1.5, ,14~ FROM TRACIE Y. FAX N0. 608 965 0556 May. 14 2003 09:28PM PS Hawai' i Island Tobacco-Free P e~rs11~,~. Hawai' i P_O. Box 2265 CeIIULx: 808) 896.1670 Pahoa, HI 967~V~~; ~ ~ ~ qe: (808) %5-0663 COUN7~ i IF ~-(808)966-0556 NNraciey®nawai.n.c«n Fax Cover Sheet send m' CounGlmembers Fro^+~ 7racfa Yoshimoto Hawaii County Council E, Hawaii Coordinator Chris Detn-Gaughm~ West Hawai' 1 Coordinator r"° 961-8912; West Hawaii 326-5697 °ea= May 14, 2003 Phone: URGlNT ~ RlPLY ASAP ~ PLEASE COMMENT X? PLEASE REVIEW ?X FOR YOUR INFORMATION rOTLL vAGES, rncwolNG COveR: S Cammenls: Aloha, Please distribute the attached letter and enclosure to each Councilmember. Mahalo, Tracie Yoshimoto