State Report: Most Nebraskans Support Smoking Ban

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Posted: 11:09 AM Feb 20, 2010 State Report: Most Nebraskans Support Smoking Ban Omaha Chief medical officer Joann Schaefer says Nebraskans recognize the harm of cigarette smoke and support the state's recent ban on smoking in most public places. Reporter: Associated Press	Smoking Ban in need of second look

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Chief medical officer Joann Schaefer says Nebraskans recognize the harm of cigarette smoke and support the state's recent ban on smoking in most public places.

Her comments came earlier this month as the state Department of Health and Human Services released a report detailing reaction to the ban.

The report says more than 80 percent of Nebraskans surveyed said they believe the law is important, while more than 85 percent said bars and restaurants are healthier under the ban.

The state also reports that it received 108 complaints about violations of the ban in its first six moths.

The ban went into effect June 1. Cigar bars, some hotel rooms, tobacco-only retailers, facilities that research the health effects of smoking and private homes are exempt.

Latest Comments

Posted by: smit Location: Ashland on Feb 27, 2010 at 05:31 PM

I guess the state of NE should add another ten million or so to their red ink when they kill this cash cow. It's all about money, that's all it is. That is why the whiners now will lament about it all later as the tax burden goes ballistic.

Posted by: Floyd R on Feb 25, 2010 at 06:26 PM

I would have to agree with "Who conducted the survey". We owned a business through two generations that was forced to remove smoking. We had a survey in house on a board by the exit door asking patrons to check yes or no if they were in favor of the ban. The NO side ran almost 5-1 against it. I don't think it is just the smoking ban, but another one of our rights removed by the do-gooders.

Posted by: C. Allen Location: Lincoln on Feb 25, 2010 at 02:39 PM

Why don't we tax fast food and soft drinks! These are two of the biggest problems for obesity! The smoking issue is becoming redundant. Didn't cigarettes pay for Bob Devaney Center? And now they want a new Civic Auditorium for Lincoln. Has anyone ever thought about the pollution and conditions that a welder works in, much less the people that work around that welder! This is much worse than smoking. Should we ban welding? Fireplaces? Plastic manufacturers, etc. Nebraska is going to tax every business and individual in so that a person won't be able to afford to live here. And they wonder why alot of the young people leave upon graduation or the older people because taxes are cheaper in many other states. But then again, "What about pay cuts?" Let's see how many can live on minimum wage!

Posted by: kathryn Location: ohio on Feb 22, 2010 at 11:33 AM

Who conducted the survey? If this one is like all the others in other states, then the very people who push for smoking bans also design and write and administer and interpret the results. It sounds as if that is the case here as well since their surveys ALWAYS say 80% in favor. It is time to stop allowing this practice. Before any such survey can be used to promote smoking bans, the survey should be required by law to be written, administered, interpreted, and released by a disinterested third party.

Posted by: LASR Location: Florida on Feb 21, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Ernest wrote: "Business owners were forced by law to provide "Non-smoking" areas for their clients, but smokers are not afforded "smoking areas", which appears to be discriminatory, as well as depriving smokers their right to smoke or abstain." Yes, indeed the people who are poisoning other people are being "discriminated" against. What's wrong with that?

Posted by: Robert Location: Lincoln on Feb 20, 2010 at 09:34 PM

I enjoy going out to dinner so much more since the ban has gone into effect. I found myself at a diner in Iowa that allowed smoking, and I got up and left due to the smoke in the air.

Posted by: Nick Location: nebraska on Feb 20, 2010 at 04:54 PM

We should have a ban on Drinking

Posted by: Ernest Location: Bayard, Ne on Feb 20, 2010 at 03:17 PM

Business owners were forced by law to provide "Non-smoking" areas for their clients, but smokers are not afforded "smoking areas", which appears to be discriminatory, as well as depriving smokers their right to smoke or abstain.

Posted by: RJW Location: Grand Island on Feb 20, 2010 at 02:21 PM

So , do I take a taxi home from the bars because I'm afraid someone is to drunk to walk or drive and might kill me ? By the way I'm a total obstainer ~~ but I think that infringing on my rights / or yours is a punishable offense . Quit telling people what to do and where !!! I value OUR Freedoms , that your attempting to take away !

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 20, 2010 at 01:44 PM

Would they support making tobacco illegal, and thus losing many millions in cig taxes annually, or are they hypocrites that want to keep legal a substance they claim is dangerous to the entire population, because they are addicted to the tax revenue?

Posted by: olivia Location: milford on Feb 20, 2010 at 11:32 AM

How about a new band to stop smoking by entrances now! We have to walk through the cloud of poison on the sidewalks. Remember the old song Out behind the barn,that should still apply for smokers!

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