SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2002--Nearly five years after
California's groundbreaking smoke-free bar law took effect, two new Field
Research polls for the Department of Health Services show overwhelming
support for smoke-free bars, Governor Gray Davis announced today.
The polls were released at the 2002 National Conference on Tobacco or Health
in San Francisco. According to the polls, 75 percent of bar owners and
employees in California prefer to work in smoke-free environments. Nearly 80
percent of bar patrons agree that smoke-free dining and drinking
establishments are important to their health.
"This study shows California's nationwide leadership in employee protection
laws is backed by owners and workers alike," Gov. Davis said. "Despite the
tobacco industry's aggressive interference and misinformation campaign,
smoke-free bars are preferred by the majority of bar owners and employees,
and bar patrons."
According to the 2002 "bar establishment" opinion poll, 75 percent of bar
owners and employees said they now prefer to work in a smoke-free
environment, compared to 47 percent in 1998. This represents a 60 percent
increase in bar owner and employee support for the law.
In the same period, the 2002 "bar patron" opinion poll show that 79 percent
of bar patrons surveyed said it's important to have a smoke-free environment
inside clubs, bars, lounges and restaurants with bars, a 20 percent increase
from the 66 percent reported in 1998.
SAN FRANCISCO, California » read continue
