Smoking and Tobacco Use

St. Charles Smoking Ban: Officials Consider New Policy As Critics Argue For Property Rights

Is a government ban on smoking an infringement on property rights? That's a central question that has emerged in the city of St. Charles, which had its final of three public hearings on the so-called "Smoke-Free Air Act" last night. As we reported earlier this month, the city is in the early stage ... More >>

New Smoking Bans? City of St. Charles Now Considering "Smoke-Free Air Act"

Is the city of St. Charles next? In recent months, there has been a surge in proposals related to smoking bans at every level of government in Missouri from municipal ordinances to statewide efforts -- and now officials in St. Charles are soliciting feedback for a preliminary effort labeled the "S ... More >>

No Smoking: New Ban for St. Clair County Public Housing Units, Likely Start of a Trend

In St. Louis County, elected officials and business owners have been fighting over a proposal to ban smoking inside most establishments -- even ones that were previously exempt. But across the river in Illinois, St. Clair County is successfully pushing forward with a different kind of smoking poli ... More >>

Statewide Smoking Ban in Missouri? Maria Chappelle-Nadal Proposes Broad Restrictions

While St. Louis County officials consider putting in place a stricter smoking ban policy, a bill at the state legislature to ban smoking across the entire state has gotten little attention this legislative session. That's partly because opposition is so strong, it's not likely to get far in the pr ... More >>

Smoking Ban in St. Louis County: What Kinds of Businesses Should Be Exempt?

A controversial smoking ban proposal at the St. Louis County Council has prompted businesses to protest stricter policies that they say could hurt their revenues. As we've reported, the policy under consideration, would limit exemptions to the ban so that a majority of establishments could no longer ... More >>

Smoking Ban: St. Louis County Small Businesses Fight For Exemptions, Fear Major Revenue Loss

Today at the St. Louis County Council, members of the public will have an opportunity to offer feedback on a controversial proposal to expand a smoking ban to a variety of business establishments that are exempt under current policy. Carol Fallert, owner of The Brew House in Maryland Heights, will ... More >>

Smoking Ban: St. Louis County Council Considers Fewer Exemptions, Stricter Policy

Under current St. Louis County policy, cigar bars, casino gaming areas and some drinking establishments are exempt from the ban on smoking. But that could all change if a recently introduced bill from St. Louis County Councilman Michael O'Mara passes. The proposal, full version on view below, would ... More >>

The Smoking Wars: In Indiananopolis, A Smoking Ban Much Like Ours Failed to Pass

​In 2009, Indiana had the second-highest smoking rate in the nation. Legislators felt compelled to come up with a smoking ban that was both workable and effective. But as Abdul-Hakim Shabazz at NUVO, Indy's alt-weekly newspaper, reports, left to their own devices most politicians are capable of sc ... More >>

Fight Over Missouri's Cigarette Tax Heats Up; Lung Association Gives State Failing Grade

​Missouri received its annual report card last week from the American Lung Association. The result ain't pretty. The state earned an "F" for tobacco prevention and control (spending just $58,693 last year to prevent tobacco use statewide); an "F" for smoke-free air (with legislators refusing to pa ... More >>

Cigarette Mistrial Boiled Down to Smokers v. Nonsmokers on Jury

Smokers in the jury stood apart from the non-smoking colleagues.​A lawsuit that finally went to trial last month after wending its way though court for 11 years ended yesterday in a mistrial when the jury failed to deliver a verdict. The class-action lawsuit accused tobacco giant Phillip Morris of ... More >>

Missouri Workers Exceed National Average for Secondhand Smoke Exposure

​Nearly 12 percent of Missouri workers are exposed to secondhand smoke on their jobs, according a study published this week by the Center for Disease Control. That's nearly double the national average of around 7 percent. The survey used data collected from all Missouri counties in 2007 and 2008. ... More >>

Mizzou Research: Cigarettes Change Your Personality

Researchers say smoking is correlated with impulsiveness.​It's bad for your lungs. It's bad for your skin. It's bad for your heart. But is smoking really bad for your personality? Yes, say researchers at the University of Missouri, who believe that quitting smoking can give people a charisma ... More >>

Cigar Store Owners Fight Push to End Smoking Ban Exemptions in St. Louis County

Premium tobacco retailers pipe up against the smoking ban.​Former councilwoman Barbara Fraser made a cameo at the St. Louis County Council meeting Tuesday to urge her former colleagues to do away with exemptions to the county's smoking ban. Fraser, who now serves as chairwoman for Tobacco Free St. ... More >>

St. Charles County Executive Vetoes Bill Calling for Vote on Smoking Ban

Ehlmann argues that smoking ban cannot play favorites.​Steve Ehlmann, the executive of St. Charles County, today announced that he's vetoed a bill that would place a countywide smoking ban on the ballot in November 2012. In a press release today, Ehlmann took objection to provisions in the bill pa ... More >>

St. Charles County Council Approves Public Vote for Smoking Ban

The fate of the smoking ban now lies with St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann.​By a vote of 4 - 2, the St. Charles County Council passed legislation yesterday that would put a countywide smoking ban on the November 2012 ballot. The issue isn't a done deal yet. County Executive Steve Ehlmann ... More >>

Tobacco-Free St. Louis Faces IRS Complaint Over Lobbying, Campaign Contribution

Jim Pepper is complaining to the IRS that an anti-smoking agency has crossed the line.​O'Fallon Councilman Jim Pepper has followed through on his threat to complain to the IRS about the political work of Tobacco-Free St. Louis.Pepper yesterday filed a complaint with the IRS, charging that the non- ... More >>

O'Fallon Councilman Taking on Anti-Smoking Groups

UPDATED at 3:15 p.m. to include comment from the American Cancer Society ​Tomorrow, residents of the St. Charles County city of O'Fallon will vote on a sweeping smoking ban -- one that's far tougher than those recently enacted in St. Louis City or St. Louis County.But one O'Fallon city councilman ... More >>

Cape Girardeau Could Have Missouri's First Smoke-Free Casino Following April 5 Vote

Cape Girardeau rolls the dice on smoking next week.​Here's an interesting tidbit out of Cape Girardeau where voters next week will be asked to weigh in on a smoking ban for bars, restaurants and most places open to the public. This week the group pushing for the ban, Smoke-Free Cape, filed paperwo ... More >>

Direct E-Cig Burns Missouri Customers, BBB Says

The BBB gives Direct E-Cig an F.​Smokeless cigarettes may be better for your health than the traditional cancer sticks.But when it comes to your wallet, the Better Business Bureau says, look out! They say they've received complaints from customers from 44 states, including 40 complaints from Miss ... More >>

County Smoking Ban Exemptions On the Way Out, Tobacco-Free St. Louis Says

County Executive Charlie Dooley: Is he about to get his way on smoking ban exemptions? Tobacco-Free St. Louis says yes.​The non-profit agency Tobacco Free St. Louis has a $545,000 contract with St. Louis County to -- among other things -- urge the county council to remove exemptions from the count ... More >>

Stimulus Funds to "Educate" St. Louis County Council About Need for Tougher Smoking Ban

Your stimulus dollars at work!​As we reported earlier today, St. Louis County has received $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds for a campaign to cut back on tobacco use here.But now Daily RFT has learned that the county is using some of the money to hire a non-profit organization to "educate" i ... More >>

Report: Kansas City Smoking Ban Hasn't Negatively Affected Bars and Restaurants

Study suggests revenues don't go up in smoke following bans.​The Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City last week released a report claiming that the nearly two-year-old smoking ban in Missouri's second-largest city has not had a negative impact on business at bars and restaurants. The study ... More >>

Kansas City Study Shows Smoking Bans There Haven't Decreased Bar/Restaurant Revenue

Study suggests revenues don't go up in smoke following bans.​The Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City last week released a report claiming that the nearly two-year-old smoking ban in Missouri's second-largest city has not had a negative impact on business at bars and restaurants. The study ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Always Consider the Source -- Smoking Bans

Today's comment comes in response to a post about a study in Kansas City that found that city's smoking ban has had no financial impact on the sales receipts at bars and restaurants. The study was commissioned by the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City, which supports smoking bans. Commente ... More >>

Comment of the Day: That's Not a Smoking Ban! This IS a Smoking Ban!

Today's comment comes in response to today's post on the dozens of St. Louis bars that have applied for exemptions to the new smoking ban. Taking a look at the list, reader Dan opines:There is no ban. This is not a ban. Period. Go to Chicago, or even Columbia, and you will see a smoking ban. This i ... More >>

Lawsuit Waiting To Be Filed Against St. Louis Smoking Bans

Butt in or butt out! Just don't ride the fence.​New laws banning smoking in most bars and restaurants in St. Louis city and county went into effect yesterday. And, as chronicled in today's Post-Dispatch, a preponderance of grizzled old smokers are really upset with the ban. "I'm 60 years old, and ... More >>

Lambert Field to Eliminate Smoking Lounges

​I never used the smoking lounges at Lambert Field, but I'm going to miss them. There was something deliciously anthropomorphic about corralling smokers inside glass cages as if they were some kind of sad, endangered animal. Personally, I always thought of a certain Far Side cartoon whenever I'd w ... More >>

Missouri Ranked 47th in Protecting Kids From Smoking

​Twelve years after the tobacco industry agreed to a multi-billion-dollar settlement with the attorneys general of 46 states, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is out with a new report examining how -- if at all -- those funds are being used to prevent youth from smoking.  The study isn't ki ... More >>

Creve Coeur Passes Smoking Ban with Exception of Crotchety, Old-Man Clubs

​Put that in your pipe, and smoke it. Such was the message at last night's Creve Coeur council meeting where council members voted unanimously (5-0) to pass a strict new smoking ban for all public places -- with the notable exceptions of the local American Legion Post and Elks Club.  Patrons ... More >>

Wash. U. Researchers Discover Smoking Won't Give You Cancer -- Genetics Will

image via​If you paid any attention at all in your elementary-school health class, you'd know by now that smoking a lot leads to lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But what leads some people to smoke more than others? An international team of researchers, led by two ... More >>

The Firebird Is Going Non-Smoking as of October 1

Yesterday, the Firebird announced that as of October 1, it's going non-smoking. As they put it, it's "not exactly breaking news" -- which is true, considering most shows I've been to there in recent weeks have asked smokers to go outside, and local music venues such as the Old Rock House and the Pag ... More >>

Wash. U. Study Got It RIGHT: Smoke Eaters Don't Work

Martin Pion is founder of MO-GASP (Missouri Group Against Smoking Pollution)​Washington University researchers recently released a study of smoking pollution levels in various restaurants and bars in metro St. Louis. Airborne nicotine was used as a measure of secondhand smoke (SHS). Important ... More >>

The Straight Dope on Missouri Tobacco-Smokers

​About 23 percent of Missouri's adults still proudly identify as smokers, according to a new report by Washington University's Center for Tobacco Policy Research (CTPR). That means our state has one of the highest population of smokers in the country. Of all those unrepentant smokers, nearly ... More >>

Poll: 68 Percent of St. Charles Voters Support Smoking Ban

​The American Cancer Society is out with a survey of St. Charles County voters. According to its numbers, 68 percent of voters in the county would support a smoking ban for bars, restaurants and casinos. Of those polled, 58 percent said they would "strongly" support such a measure. Lake Saint Loui ... More >>

Secondhand Smoke: Pretty Gross, Wash U Study Finds

​A study released today by Washington University found that bars and restaurants that allow smoking expose patrons and employees to all of nicotine's nasty effects.Well, duh.Genuinely surprising, though, was the finding that ventilation systems like Smokeeters appeared to make the problem worse.Th ... More >>

Clayton Approves Draconian Smoking Ban: No Cigarettes in Parks

Mickey will have to stub out that cig if he wants to play softball at Shaw Park.​We here at Daily RFT have (for the most part) championed the many smoking bans voted in last year by various city councils and voters in St. Louis, Kirkwood, St. Louis County and other municipalities. But the enhanced ... More >>

Keep St. Louis Free Scores Victory ... in Springfield

​Speaking of smoking bans, I got an email from our old friend Bill Hannegan at Keep St. Louis Free yesterday. As you'll recall, Hannegan and his group fought a diligent battle last year to stop smoking-ban legislation in St. Louis County and city.And while Keep St. Louis Free came up short on thos ... More >>

Pageant Going Smoke Free July 1

www.thepageant.com​The Pageant announced yesterday that it would go smoke-free July 1 -- six months before a city-wide smoking ban goes into effect. Club owner Joe Edwards says the change comes following requests from some 80 percent of visiting bands that prefer playing smoke-free shows. The move ... More >>

Mangia Italiano Goes Smoke-Free March 1

​As Riverfront Times music editor Annie Zaleski reported this morning on A to Z, the popular bar and restaurant on South Grand announced yesterday via their Twitter feed that they're going to become a non-smoking establishment starting March 1.An RFT interview earlier this month with David Timney, ... More >>

A little smoke-free trivia to clear the air

When sweeping smoking bans take effect next year, many bar patrons might not even notice the difference

Mangia Italiano Pondering Its Smoking Status

Over the weekend, Mangia Italiano's Twitter account tweeted a link to an interesting survey, which (among other things) asked patrons about the restaurant/venue and the smoking ban. When Robin Wheeler recently talked to executive chef David Timney about the future growth of the restaurant, their co ... More >>

The Taste of Victory is a Case of Schlafly Pale Ale

Today Bill Hannegan, founder of Keep St. Louis Free, stopped by the Riverfront Times to pay off a bet. As regular readers know, Hannegan and his group are dead set against smoking bans in St. Louis. Over the past few months, Hannegan and I have shared a few online jabs. In a post back in July I bet ... More >>

RFT readers weigh in matters of biblical proportions, and huff and puff about the newly passed smoking ban

Legal Challenge to Smoking Ban Would Be Tough Sell, Say Law Experts

​Even before voters in St. Louis County overwhelmingly approved a smoking ban last week, opponents of the ban warned that they might challenge the statute in court.  At a press conference in October, Bill Hannegan of "Vote No on Proposition N" and Keep St. Louis Free said he and others were e ... More >>

St. Louis County Voters Embrace Future; Vote "Yes" for Smoking Ban

That crisp, clean air you're smelling this morning? Ladies and gentlemen, that's progress! That's (dare we say it?) the future! ​Yes, like a scene out of a movie, yesterday the George McFlys of the world stood up to the bully Biffs and victoriously took back our future. By an overwhelming mar ... More >>

St. Louis County Smoking Ban Passes

In yesterday's election, St. Louis County voters overwhelmingly passed a smoking ban. What this means:*Casinos in the city and county are exempt from the ban.*As that Daily RFT link above puts it, "bars that earn 75 percent of their revenue from liquor sales" in the county can still allow smoking.&n ... More >>

Cast Your Vote Here on St. Louis County Smoking Ban!

​At long last, the measure discussed ad nauseam in this here blog and other local media is before St. Louis County voters today. Should the majority of county voters today say "yes" to a smoking ban, a (somewhat) similar smoking ban would also go into effect in St. Louis City.Neither smoking bans ... More >>

Heart, Lung and Cancer Associations Call on Dooley to Veto Smoking-Ban Bill

Smoking debate drags on.​As mentioned yesterday on this blog, folks on both side of the smoking ban debate aren't happy with a bill that would ask St. Louis County voters to prohibit tobacco use in most businesses. For smoking advocates and many business owners, the bill is an unfair encroachment ... More >>

County Smoking Ban Headed for Nov. 3 Vote -- Despite Objections from Both Sides of Debate

​It's not a perfect bill, but it's the best one County Councilwoman Barbara Fraser thought she could get her fellow council members to endorse.