Missouri's Tobacco Control Exchange

St. Louis to Go Smoke-free - if County Does

The St. Louis Board of Alderman voted on Friday to give patrons in public places clean air to breathe - but only if the county does it first.

After debate on Friday at City Hall, the board decided the city should have a clean air policy if county voters approve a similar measure Nov. 3.

Here are highlights from Friday's decision from local news sources:

Highlights of Today's Epic Smoking Ban Debate at St. Louis City Hall (Riverfront Times)

St. Louis Board of Alderman Tentatively Passes Smoking Ban (KSDK)

City Alderman Pass Smoking Ban Contingent on County Approval (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Smoking Policy in Flux in Wildwood

Days after advocates pleaded with City Council members to institute smoking rules, Wildwood officials decided to halt discussions on a clean air act until a November referendum in St. Louis County is decided.

Despite public support at meetings - with a few of the usual naysayers - Mayor Timothy Woerther said he would veto any proposal that did not have a vote of the people, according to a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch story.

University of Kentucky kicks the habit

In November, the University of Kentucky will become a tobacco-free campus. The new policy says that students, staff and faculty are not allowed to use any tobacco product on any UK campus.

According to the Kentucky Kernel:

The tobacco ban prohibits all forms of tobacco, including hookah, cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco, Ellen Hahn, co-chair of the Tobacco-Free Campus Task Force, said. The boundary will be the contiguous campus and there will be no designated smoking areas. The policy will extend to all UK owned, operated and leased properties in Fayette County, Hahn said.

The university is following the same enforcement procedures recommended by Ty Patterson, director of the Ozarks Technical Community College's Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy: They plan to kindly - but firmly - tell everyone about the policy without severe punishment. Students who repeatedly violate the ban will be sent to the Dean of Student's office for violating campus Code of Conduct.

West County Tells Firefighters, EMS, No Smoking

In West County, firefighters and EMS can no longer smoke or chew while in uniform or standing on district property, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Anyone hired after Jan. 1, 2010 can not smoke on or off duty, officials said.

St. Louis County Voters Will Decide Clean Air Law

Despite his personal feelings on the topic, St. Louis County Executive signed a law to set a proposed clean air ordinance before voters in November.

Dooley - who previously stated he did not buy into research that said secondhand smoke is dangerous - now says he will vote for the ban.

Some bars, the airport smoking lounges and casinos are exempt from the proposal.

Washington University supports the bill, despite the fact that it was watered down before the third and final reading.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the details. Be sure to read the story comments and leave your own.

Also on the November ballot is a smoking measure in Kirkwood, which was led by a petition drive. Voters handily defeated a stricter measure three years ago, but proponents are confident that exemptions could help the bill pass this fall.

Several nearby cities already have enacted smoking restrictions.

Editorials: Smoking Laws Hurt Individual Rights

Two interesting editorials posted last week about clean air acts in other states. In these letters, writers say they believe the government is going too far in its quest to create healthy workplaces.

On the Web:

Government Uses "Wellness" as Excuse to Limit Freedom (Idaho Press Tribune)

Greg Nelson: Enough Government Already (Morning Sun)

Hospital: Follow Tobacco Policy or Be Fired

In Springfield, Mo., Cox Health Systems has instituted an expanded clean air policy.

How, employees must be at least 500 feet away from all Cox buildings to smoke, instead of just hospital facilities. According to KTTS, any employee who violates the new policy could be terminated.

Galveston Weighs Clean Air Ordinance

The Galveston, Texas, City Council will decide this week if it will institute a clean air act for the city.

The proposal would prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants, but makes exemptions for tobacco establishments and private businesses, according to The Galveston County Daily News.

Troops Get to Keep Smokes

Pentagon officials decided late last week that soldiers could keep smoking in the battlefield.

That comes after an effort to ban smoking during combat.

The Kansas City Star has a great article about soldier smoking and the end of the soldier smoke-free effort.

Pakko Speaks Out - Again - on Smoking Bans

Michael Pakko and a colleague are quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as believing the clean air act in Illinois has a negative impact on casinos.

Read the statement here.