Efforts Continue for Smoke Free East Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is one of the largest cities in the country without a smoke-free ordinance that includes all workplaces and public places, including bars and casinos. This leaves more than 3,000 workers being denied the right to breathe clean air.

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The American Heart Association and its coalition partners were deeply disappointed when the East Baton Rouge Metro Council rejected a comprehensive smoking ban of indoor venues this past April. Since then, the American Heart Association and its coalition partners have been doing major legwork to make this passage a reality in the capital city. With 70 percent of voters in East Baton Rouge Parish supporting the passage of this comprehensive ordinance, the coalition has added a multitude of new supporters and subject matter experts from a vast array of disciplines. This support adds more “tools in the toolbox” towards the favorable passage of a smoke-free East Baton Rouge.

Although there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, service industry and gaming facility employees, along with musicians and entertainers, breathe more secondhand smoke while at work than any other type of employee, and can suffer from many of the same illnesses as smokers. A smoke-free law will protect the health of every resident in East Baton Rouge Parish by eliminating the exposure of secondhand smoke in bars and casinos. Everyone will breathe easier, and this will create safer, healthier environments for everyone who lives, works, and visits our Parish. The coalition is working to not “demonize” smokers, instead they simply ask they step outside to do so.

What can you do to help? We encourage you to join us in this effort to protect our neighbors and friends from the dangers of secondhand smoke by visiting the Smoke Free EBR website for additional information and event updates.

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