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CHICAGO (June 26, 2008) – Nearly six months after implementation of the state’s smoke-free
workplace law, a poll released today finds that Illinois voters overwhelmingly support the law
making public places smoke-free by prohibiting smoking inside all workplaces, including
restaurants, bars, and casinos. The poll also finds that voters would reject attempts to exempt
casinos from the new law.
“The smoke-free law is working exactly as intended to protect the people of Illinois from the
health harms of secondhand smoke and preserve their right to breathe clean air. Clearly, Illinois
voters appreciate the new law,” said Clement Rose, MD, President, American Cancer Society,
Illinois Division.
The poll found that nearly three out of four (73 percent) Illinois voters support the smoke-free
workplace law, with 62 percent expressing strong support. Just 25 percent of voters oppose the
law. The smoke-free law is even more popular now than when passed a year ago by the state
legislature – with the margin of support growing by 10 percentage points from a similar poll
conducted a year ago. At the same time last year, voters favored the legislation 68 to 30 percent.
Support for the new law comes from a broad coalition of voters, including Democrats and
Republicans as well as voters in every region of the state.
By a 2 to 1 margin, voters also feel that casinos should continue to be included under the smokefree
law. A 63 percent majority said that casinos should be included in the law while just 26
percent of voters feel that casinos should be exempted.
“Although the opponents of healthy workplaces have tried again and again to exempt casinos
from the Smoke Free Illinois Act, we will continue to work to protect all Illinois workers from deadly
secondhand smoke exposure,” said Harold Wimmer, President & CEO, American Lung
Association of Illinois & Greater Chicago.
The survey of 606 registered voters in Illinois was commissioned by Smoke-free Illinois with
funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition to the support for the smoke-free
law, other findings of the survey include:
Voters understand the health hazards of secondhand smoke and feel all workers should
be protected from it. More than 8 in 10 voters believe secondhand smoke poses a serious
(59 percent) or moderate (24 percent) health hazard. Seventy-nine (79) percent of voters
agree that no worker in Illinois should be exposed to secondhand smoke, including
bartenders, waiters and waitresses.
Voters see the health benefits of the smoke-free law. Voters overwhelmingly agree (88
percent, including 68 percent of smokers) that “restaurants, bars and casinos are much
healthier for customers and employees now that they are smoke-free.”
Voters enjoy smoke-free restaurants and bars.Nearly 7 in 10 respondents said that since
the legislation took effect, going to bars and restaurants is now more enjoyable (68
percent); significantly, only 12 percent find it less enjoyable.
“Thousands of nonsmokers die each year from coronary heart disease because of exposure to
secondhand smoke, “ said Kathleen L. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chair of the American Heart
Association’s Illinois Advocacy Committee. “Illinoisans deserve to breathe clean air, no matter
where they work, and this poll shows that they do not want to see that right diminished.”.
In addition, an 84 percent majority of voters believe that it is important to have a smoke-free
environment in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants. “This poll shows that Illinois voters
are embracing the smoke-free law as both good for their health and for their pleasure when going
out to restaurants, bars and casinos,” said Joel Africk, President and CEO, Respiratory Health
Association of Metropolitan Chicago. “As a result of this law, thousands of workers no longer
have to choose between their health and a paycheck.”
“Illinois has one of the most protective smoke-free laws in the country,” said Janet Williams, Co-
Chair, Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco. “It is clear that Illinois legislators understand the harmful
health effects of secondhand smoke and this statewide poll underscores voter support for this
comprehensive law and its public health benefits.”
In 2006, former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona released a landmark report on
secondhand smoke. The report confirmed that exposure to secondhand smoke causes cancer,
heart disease and serious lung ailments. Secondhand smoke contains dozens of carcinogens and
more than 4,000 chemicals, including formaldehyde, cyanide, carbon monoxide and arsenic. As
Carmona stated: "The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere
annoyance but a serious health hazard."
The growing evidence that secondhand smoke harms health has spurred the growing, bipartisan
momentum across the country to pass smoke-free laws. In the United States, 24 states,
Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have passed smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and
bars.
The survey of 606 registered voters in Illinois was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner
Research from May 28 to June 1, 2008. The survey is subject to a 4.0 percentage point margin of
error at the 95 percent confidence level.
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The lead agencies of Smoke-free Illinois include Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco, American
Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of Illinois & Greater
Chicago and Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.
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