72% of St. Louis County Voters Favor Stronger Smoking Ban, Says American Cancer Society

A new poll commissioned by the American Cancer Society suggests that an overwhelming number of St. Louis County voters favor a stronger smoking ban.

According to the poll, 72 percent of likely voters support making all bars, restaurants, casinos and other workplaces entirely smoke-free. Moreover, 64 percent of the 400 people polled said they strongly support a stronger ban on smoking.

In January, a county ban went into effect prohibiting smoking in any bar and restaurant that earns more than 25 percent of its revenue from food sales. Dozens of bars have managed to get an exemption to the ban under that formula. Casinos are also exempted from the ban.

The American Cancer Society poll, conducted by the national polling firm The Mellman Group, found that 71 percent of respondents believe that current law creates an unlevel playing field and there should be a countywide law that makes all bars and restaurants smoke-free.

"Clearly, voters in St. Louis County want a stronger, comprehensive law that fully protects their right to breathe smoke-free air," said Stacy Reliford, Field Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society. "With the abundant science about the dangers of secondhand smoke, exemptions for certain workplaces are no longer acceptable."