IER Response to Health Department Communications

Iowa Smoking Ban Economic Impact

Iowans for Equal Rights has prepared four proposed Administrative Rules Review Committee(ARRC) objections to the Iowa Department of Public Health smoking ban enforcement rules. The proposed objections have been provided to legislators as well as rules review committee staff. What remians to be done is for a committee member or members to raise the objections and request vote on them. A two-thirds majority vote is required to sustain an onjection(s). Iowans for Equal Rights continues its work on the job to support Iowa small business owners.

Science Daily has published a September 24, 2008 article about a recent study by anti-tobacco activists, 'Casual' Smokers Have A Greater Risk Of Hazardous Drinking And Alcohol-use Disorders. Casual smokers (those who occasionally smoke when socializing) beware...tobacco control has chosen to negatively label you as binge drinkers and hazardous drunks. But the study goes further, to confirm what small business owners in Iowa already know: smoking bans reduce hospitality trade business income. Study author Sherry McKee remarked "Currently, the majority of states have enacted smoke-free bans that extend to smoking in venues where alcohol is served," said McKee. "Research indicates that smoking bans can reduce alcohol consumption in bars, particularly among heavy drinkers." The results of this study should remove any doubt that, contrary to the Iowa Department of Public Health's claims about smoking bans increasing patronage and revenues, the Iowa ban is having a predictably adverse economic impact.

A joint press release titled Four Groups File Complaints Against Carmona's 2006 Report was issued October 8, 2008 by Opponents of Ohio Bans and three other groups. The group’s complaints follow a similar complaint filed earlier this year by Forces International. The press release is very important because it outlines the growing opposition of many business owner and advocacy groups’ strong opposition to the incorrect information concerning Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) included in former U.S. Surgeon General Carmona’s report and his public statements concerning its contents.

The Iowa Department of Public Health has published a September 10, 2008 regulatory analysis for smoking ban enforcement rules. Interested parties should immediately print out and review the twelve page analysis.

Iowa 2008 Smoking Ban and Eminent Domain

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) In Perspective: Material Risk, Regulatory Standards, and Study Results

http://www.forces.org/Forces_Articles/article_viewer.php?id=275

The article for this link explores the important relationship between ventilation standards and smoking bans. The focus of the May 2007 commentary is the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.1 as amended in 2004. That standard relates to minimum ventilation rates that can be dramatically reduced in “Smoke free” environments where smoking bans apply. The net result is that work environments that apply ASHRAE Standard 62.1 2004 can experience reduced overall Indoor Air Quality caused by increased concentrations of airborne carcinogens and toxins not related to tobacco smoke. An update on this article will be added that considers ASHRAE Standard 62.1 2007 as Iowa smoking ban events progress.

Click Here For Discussion of Iowa Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee and its role concerning the Iowa Department of Public Health smoking ban enforcement rules.