Citizens Value Health Benefits and Don't Want Law Changed
MINNEAPOLIS, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- An overwhelming 72 percent of St.
Paul citizens support their new smoke-free law, according to a new survey
released by the Ramsey Medical Society today.
Strong supporters of the new smoke-free law, which prohibits smoking in
all St. Paul restaurants and bars, outnumber strong opponents by more than
a 3-to-1 margin. Sixty percent favor the law strongly and 12 percent favor
it somewhat, for a total of 72 percent supporting the law. At the same
time, 18 percent oppose the law strongly and 7 percent oppose it somewhat,
for a total of 25 percent opposing the law.
"The opponents of this law have been boisterous, but a large majority
of St. Paul citizens value the health benefits of the law and want to keep
it as is," said Roger Johnson, chief executive officer of the Ramsey
Medical Society.
In a survey conducted about three months after the law was implemented
on March 31, 2006, 84 percent of respondents indicated that they considered
secondhand smoke a serious or moderate health hazard, and 73 percent do not
want the law changed.
Eighty-seven percent of respondents also said they now go out to St.
Paul bars and restaurants as much or more than they did prior to the
smoke-free law. More respondents said that they go out more frequently (27
percent) than less frequently (12 percent).
Compared to the period before the law, 58 percent of respondents said
their experience in local establishments has been more enjoyable, with only
12 percent saying it was less enjoyable.
When it comes to the new law, St. Paul citizens are finding a lot to
like. A strong majority agree that bar and restaurant workers should be
protected from exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace (82 percent
agree), and that the establishments are healthier for customers and
employees now that they are smoke-free (86 percent agree).
"St. Paul's smoke-free law is obviously good news for workers and
customers," said Johnson. "But there is good news for the hospitality
industry, too. St. Paul citizens now find their local restaurants and bars
healthier and cleaner, and they are frequenting them more often. The
smoke-free law has made our great city even better."
Opponents of the law have stressed the rights of tobacco users to smoke
inside public gathering spots. But by more than a 7-to-1 to one margin,
respondents indicated that the rights of customers and workers to breathe
clean air is more important than the rights of smokers to smoke inside
public gathering spots.
"When you're in a smoke-filled restaurant, bar or bowling alley, you
are involuntarily smoking other people's cigarettes, and that can be
dangerous," said Johnson. "Now that St. Paul citizens have the right to
breathe safe smoke-free air, they don't want anyone to take that right
away."
The survey was sponsored by the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota
through a grant from the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco.
The surveys were conducted by The Mellman Group, an independent research
firm based in Washington, D.C. Among the Mellman Group's dozens of other
clients include the federal Health Care Financing Administration, which
oversees Medicare and Medicaid and the U.S. Departments of Justice, State
and Labor. The Mellman Group also conducts polls for respected news media
outlets, such as Fortune magazine.
To read the entire results for the survey, visit http://www.mpaat.org .
Methodology
The Mellman Group of Washington, D.C., conducted a survey of 500
registered voters in the City of St. Paul, who were interviewed by
telephone June 26-30, 2006. The poll has a weighted sample size of 400, and
includes oversamples in some city council wards. The study used a
registration-based sample including all registered voters in St. Paul. The
margin of error for this survey is +4.9 percent at the 95 percent level of
confidence. The margin of error is higher for subgroups.
The Ramsey Medical Society is the professional society of physicians in
all specialties and medical students with over 1,500 members in Ramsey,
Washington, and Dakota Counties.
SOURCE Ramsey Medical Society; Minnesota Partnership for Action
Against
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Related links:
http://www.mpaat.org
CONTACT:
Kerri Gordon, Public Relations Manager of
Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco, +1-952-767-1403
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