Thank you for not smoking

It’s been one year since Louisiana went smoke-free in most public areas – workplaces, restaurants, schools and recreational sites for children.

“What a difference a year makes, and we have made great strides this year to educate business owners and the public about the law and how to properly comply with it,” said Tante Chatman, coordinator for the Houma-Thibodaux Regional Chapter of Tobacco Free Living.

A vast majority of Louisianans lauded the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act in a recent poll. The poll, conducted by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living, indicates 81 percent of Louisianans favor the anti-smoking law.

“Air quality in restaurants across the state has improved significantly and Louisiana smokers and tobacco users are getting the message that there is no better time than now to quit smoking,” Chatman explained. “The Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act is not only a breath of fresh air, it’s a breath of healthier air.”

According to Murphy Painter, commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, more than 95 percent of Louisiana’s restaurants are adhering to the law.

“The support for a 100 percent smoke-free environment in Louisiana is strong and growing,” he said in a release. “Workplace policies are the only effective means to truly eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace.”

The state law posed little change in Terrebonne Parish, since an earlier local ordinance required most businesses to go smoke-free.

However, in Lafourche Parish, many businesses were left to break the news to customers.

Western Sizzlin’ Steak House has been part of the Thibodaux community for nearly 25 years. Prior to the ban, the restaurant was a smoking and non-smoking diner. Operating manager Susan Cashio said the ban hasn’t diminished the flow of customers.

“People are going to eat,” she said. “I think most people are happy with the change.”

Before the ban went into effect, the smoking section was the most requested seating area at Western Sizzlin’, Cashio said. On occasion, a customer would complain about the cigarette smoke near the men’s restroom. Otherwise, she said, no one had a problem with smoke.

“I guess with the recent rise in health concerns, smokers are starting to quit and prefer being in smoke-free environments,” Cashio said.

Envie Restaurant in Thibodaux was one of the few Lafourche Parish businesses that didn’t have problems with the transition because the restaurant has been smoke-free for the past five years.

Envie owner David Jones previously owned a restaurant in conjunction with the Howard Johnson Hotel in Thibodaux. It catered to smokers and non-smokers. But when Envie opened, Jones decided to make it a smoke-free establishment. He does not regret making the decision.

“Ninety-nine percent of the customers were excited that we were a smoke-free establishment,” he said.

In 2007, the anti-smoking act was credited with encouraging smokers and tobacco users to quit. Since the law went into effect, more than 7,100 tobacco users across the state have sought counseling to quit smoking, according to Chatman.

“Quitting is the most important step a smoker can take to improve the length and quality of their life and the health of those around them,” she said. “While conquering a tobacco addiction isn’t easy, there are a number of statewide cessation programs that tobacco users can turn to for support.”

Unfortunately, 40 percent of Western Sizzlin’s employees are not among those who have attempted to quit smoking since the ban.

“There are workers who are die-hard smokers. We tried to encourage them to stop smoking but they won’t, so we just gave them an area to smoke outside of the facility,” she said. “At first they complained, but now they are alright with going outside to smoke.”

Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathy Benoit said there has been a 100-percent compliance with the law and her office has not received any complaints prior to or since the enactment of the smoking ban.

Envie Restaurant in Thibodaux has been smoke-free since it opened in 2002 – unlike other businesses in the area. Restaurant hostess Stacy Goss and waitress Jenna Carter both said the prefer working in a smoke-free environment. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN