Role of Research
• Understand Public Opinion
• Correct Misperceptions
• Demonstrate Voter Support
• Reassure Nervous Pols
• Reveal Health Impact
• Counter Economic Anecdotes
• Generate Earned Media
A Strong Majority of New Yorkers Support
The State’s Smoke-Free Workplace Law
Recently, a law went into effect prohibiting smoking in all workplaces in New York state, including offices,
restaurants, and bars. Would you say that you support or oppose the law?
Total Support: 70%
80
60
24
40
Total Oppose: 28%
20
46 12
15
0
Support Oppose
Darker shading equals stronger intensity New York
Total numbers are rounded Statewide survey of registered voters - September 2003
Voters Believe In The Right to Breathe Clean Air
Inside Restaurants and Bars
Which one of the following do you think is more important?
The rights of customers and employees to breathe clean air inside
restaurants and bars
The rights of smokers to smoke inside restaurants and bars
Right to breathe 55% strong 76%
clean air
Right of smokers to 6%
strong 16%
smoke
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Darker shading equals stronger intensity
New York
Total numbers are rounded
Statewide survey of registered voters - September 2003
Voters Think Restaurants and Bars are Healthier, More
Enjoyable, and Have No Inclination To Change The Law
% strongly/somewhat agree
Restaurants and bars are healthier for
customers and employees now that they 54% 31% 85
are smoke-free
It’s really nice to go out and enjoy New
York’s restaurants and bars without 82
57% 26%
smelling like smoke when you get home
There has been a lot of talk about changing
the new law, but we should give the law a 75
43% 31%
chance to work before trying to weaken it
People should not get too worked up about
this law. It is not too much to ask for
smokers to step outside a restaurant or bar 46% 31%
77
when they want a cigarette
The media is blowing this out of proportion.
There will always be a small group of 70
people who complain about the smoke-free 36% 34%
law, but overall the new law is working fine
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
New York
Statewide survey of registered voters - September 2003
September 15, 2003 Contact: Josh Isay, 212-535-8384 or
For Immediate Release Micah Lasher, 646-602-6577
New Poll Shows 70% of New Yorkers Favor Statewide
Smoke-Free Workplace Law
Support Strong Across State and Party Lines
By a margin of 70% to 28%, New York voters support the State’s smoke-free workplace
law, according to a new poll released today by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
The poll also found that 54% of those surveyed are more likely to support a candidate for
the State Legislature who voted for the law and 20% would be less likely to support such
a candidate (see attached fact sheet).
“This poll shows that across demographic and geographic boundaries, New Yorkers are
embracing the State smoke-free law as both good for their health and for their pleasure
when going out to restaurants and bars,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Any lawmaker who tries to roll back this law is going
to have to face their constituents.”
The survey found that eight out of ten New Yorkers (83 percent) surveyed believe that
second-hand smoke is a health hazard and that three out of four voters (75 percent) felt
that we should give the law a chance to work before trying to weaken it..
The smoke-free workplace law was passed by the State Senate and Assembly and
signed into law by Governor Pataki in March. Supported by the American Heart
Association, the American Cancer Association, and the American Lung Association, the
law prohibits smoking in nearly all workplaces, bars and restaurants where employees
are exposed to the 69 carcinogens in secondhand smoke.
The survey of 600 registered voters throughout New York State was conducted between
Friday, September 12 and Sunday, September 14, 2003 by Global Strategy Group. The
poll has a margin of error of +/- 4%.
--30--
To: Members of the New York State Assembly
From: Penny Leask, NYS PTA President
Patricia Hysert, NYS PTA Health Chairman
#716-861-4776
Date: 10/8/03
Re: Voter Support for Clean Indoor Air Law
On behalf of the members of the New York State Congress of Parents
and Teachers, Inc. (PTA), we would like to thank you for supporting
enactment this Spring of the Clean Indoor Air Act. The Assembly’s
leadership on this issue is appreciated by the broad coalition of health and
community agencies that supported the legislation.
Attached is a new statewide poll which shows that there is
overwhelming bi-partisan support for the State’s smoke-free workplace law.
The poll conducted by Global Strategy Group found that 70% of voters
support the current law and 75% agree that the law should be given a
chance to work before trying to weaken it. Eighty-two percent of those
polled appreciate being able to patronize smoke free restaurants and bars.
Support for the new law cuts across geographic and partisan lines:
Upstate voters favor the law 66-32%; suburban voters favor it 74-24%;
New York City voters favor it 71-25%;
Republicans support the law 66-32%; Democrats support the law 71-
26%; Independents support the law 75-22%
This poll clearly demonstrates that a majority of the public believes that
the Legislature and the Governor did the right thing by enacting the Clean
Indoor Act. The law protects children and young people from diseases
caused by secondhand smoke. In addition, studies have indicated that
bans on smoking in public places will significantly lower the rates of
adolescent smoking. We thank you for your past support and urge you to
continue to advocate for the law.
Residents Across The State Support
Connecticut’s Smoke-Free Workplace Law
Recently, a law went into effect prohibiting smoking inside all workplaces in Connecticut, including offices,
restaurants, and bars. Would you say that you support or oppose the law?
100
85 88 86 85
79
80
60
40
19
20 14 14
11 13
0
All Hartford Fairfield New Haven Rest of State
Connecticut
Total numbers are rounded Support Oppose Statewide survey - August 2004
September 28, 2004
Residents back smoking ban, poll finds
By Tobin A. Coleman
HARTFORD -- Days before the one-year anniversary of Connecticut's
workplace smoking ban, a new poll shows residents are overwhelmingly
behind it.
In spite of the support, a group of bar and tavern owners is moving forward
today with a lawsuit to have the ban declared unconstitutional.
According to a survey released by Mobilize Against Tobacco for Children's
Health, or MATCH Coalition, yesterday at a Capitol news conference, 74
percent of state residents said they strongly support the ban and 10 percent said
they somewhat support it, for a rounded total of 85 percent in support.
There were 8 percent who strongly oppose the ban and 6 percent who oppose it
somewhat, for a total of 14 percent.
In Fairfield County, 86 percent support the ban.
The smoking ban went into effect last October in all indoor workplaces,
including offices and restaurants. Bars were added to the ban in April. Private
clubs are exempt.
When residents were asked what was more important -- the rights of customers
and employees to breathe clean air inside restaurants and bars, or the rights of
smokers to smoke there -- 79 percent said the right to breathe clean air was
much more important, compared to 2 percent who said smokers' rights much
more important.
"These numbers tell a very powerful story, not a surprising one, but a powerful
message," said state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who worked for
several years to get the ban passed in the Legislature.
Delaware Voters Overwhelmingly Support The
State’s Smoke-Free Workplace Law
Last year, a law went into effect prohibiting smoking inside most workplaces in Delaware, including offices,
restaurants, bars and casinos. Would you say that you support or oppose the law?
100
Total Support: 77%
80
15
60
40
62 Total Oppose: 23%
20
9
14
0
Support Oppose
Darker shading equals stronger intensity Delaware
Total numbers are rounded Statewide survey of registered voters - October 2003
Voters Would Reject A Candidate Who Wants
To Change The Smoke-Free Law
Candidate X supports says Delaware’s smoke-free Candidate Y says Delaware’s smoke-free
workplace law is working and supports leaving the law workplace law went too far and wants to change
as it is the law to allow smoking in some workplaces
80
66% Margin of more
than 2-to-1
60 13
40
27%
53
20 12
15
0
Candidate who supports leaving the law as it is Candidate who wants to change the law
Darker shading equals stronger intensity Delaware
Total numbers are rounded Statewide survey of registered voters - October 2003
Voters View Gov. Minner More Favorably Because of Her
Support for the Smoke-Free Workplace Law
Governor Ruth Ann Minner has been a strong supporter of Delaware’s smoke-free workplace law. Does the Governor’s
support for the law make you view her more favorably or less favorably?
More favorably 34 24 58%
Less favorably 10 7 17% A majority of Democrats,
Republicans and independents
have a more favorable view of
the Governor
No difference 23 23%
0 20 40 60 80
Darker shading equals stronger intensity Delaware
Total numbers are rounded Statewide survey of registered voters - October 2003
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael
Bloomberg is handling . . .
Disapprove Approve
Crime -28% 61%
The ban on smoking in
-36% 59%
restaurants and bars
The Public Schools -49% 36%
The City Budget -51% 36%
Approve Disapprove
Taxes -61% 28%
Quinnipiac University
Survey of registered voters – October 2003 -80% -60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Maine Residents Support The
Smoke-Free Workplace Law
On January 1st of 2004, a law was enacted whereby all bars, taverns, lounges, and pool halls in Maine
became smoke-free. Do you support or oppose this law?
80 76
71
60
40
29
24
20
0
Support Oppose
Baseline (11-03) 9 month (9-04)
Total numbers are rounded
Over Time, Even Maine’s Smokers Support
The Smoke-Free Law
On January 1st of 2004, a law was enacted whereby all bars, taverns, lounges, and pool halls
in Maine became smoke-free. Do you support or oppose this law?
80
60 60
60
46
40
40
20
0
Smokers - Support Smokers - Oppose
Baseline (11-03) 9 month (9-04)
Total numbers are rounded
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Survey shows majority of smokers support
smoking ban
By Tobin A. Coleman
Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine — A majority of smokers support Maine´s smoking ban in bars,
lounges and pool halls, according to a new survey.
A poll commissioned by the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health shows that 54
percent of Maine residents who smoke support the ban, up from 40 percent who favored
it when the law went into effect Jan. 1. Among all respondents, 76 percent said they favor
the smoking ban, up from 71 percent last December.
Carol Kelly, director of the Augusta-based coalition, said she was particularly heartened
by the number of smokers who support the law.
"This is a common-sense law," she said. "It´s clear that people appreciate smoke-free
indoor space."
The Sept. 23 telephone survey of 600 Mainers was conducted by Critical Insights polling
firm in Portland and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
The coalition has more than 50 members, including the American Cancer Society, the
American Heart Association, the American Lung Association of Maine, Consumers for
Affordable Health Care, Maine Hospital Association and Medical Care Development.
Mary Ellen FitzGerald, president of Critical Insights, said the survey showed that
women, people over 45 and residents of northern Maine were more supportive of the
smoking ban.
Near Universal Approval of
California’s Smoke-free Workplace Law (2004)
100
80
Percent
60
40
20
0
Overall Smoker New Resident
Approval 89.6 74.9 93.3
Note: “New resident” defined as Californians who moved to the state after the 1995 law went into effect.
“Approval” includes “strong” approval and “somewhat” approval.
Source: The 2004 Survey of California Adults on Secondhand Smoke conducted by Field Research Corporation.
Prepared by: California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section, January 2005.
75% of New Yorkers Support The City’s Smoke-Free Law
The Law is Even More Popular Than a Variety of New York Institutions
Voter Support for the
75%
Smoke-Free Workplace Law
Favorable Rating
New York Yankees 69%
New York Knicks 63%
David Letterman 62%
Coney Island Hot Dog 61%
A deli cornbeef sandwich 60%
Krispy Kreme donuts 49%
48%
Donald Trump
George Steinbrenner 39%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
New York City
Survey of registered voters - March 2004
March 28, 2004
Smoke ban a hit - even outpolls Yanks
Lisa L. Colangelo
New York Daily News
What do New Yorkers like more than the Yankees or a Coney Island hot dog?
The smoking ban.
Or at least that's the conclusion of a poll of 500 registered voters for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
According to the poll, 61% of people strongly support the ban on smoking in workplaces, including bars, restaurants and offices.
That's up from 55% in a similar poll conducted in August.
Another 14% said they "somewhat" support the ban.
"Those are amazing numbers," said Josh Isay, a spokesman for the campaign. "People should know that contrary to some press
reports, this law is very popular ... it's a vocal minority that opposes the law."
By comparison, 46% of respondents reported a "very favorable" view of the New York Yankees, and 39% were big fans of
Coney Island hot dogs.
And 70% of people said the rights of customers to be in a smoke-free restaurant or bar is more important than the right to smoke.
Bob Zuckerman of the New York Nightlife Association questioned the validity of the results.
"When you group bars and restaurants together, you get a much different result than if you just ask about bars," he said. "We
continue to hear from members and even nonmembers that the smoking ban has hurt business and curtailed the bar business."
About 80% of the women surveyed support the ban while only 19% opposed it. Meanwhile, 70% of men supported the ban and
29% opposed it.
The poll had a margin of error of 4.5%.
Delaware Smoke-free Law Clears The Air
James Repace Delaware Study, 2003
Carcinogen (PPAH) Fine Particle Air
ng/m3 Levels Drop 95% Micrograms/m3 Pollution (RSP) Levels
140 250 Drop 90%
120
B 200
B
100
E E
F F
80
O 150
O 24-hour NAAQS for PM 2.5
R R
E E
60
100 A
A F
40 F T
T 50 E
20 E R
R
0 0
Indoor air quality test conduced Nov. 15, 2002 and Jan. 24, 2003 to assess levels of air pollution before and after DE Clean
Indoor Air Law went into effect. One casino, 5 restaurants with bars, one taproom and one pool hall were tested
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE Contact: Joel Spivak
9 AM, May 20, 2004 202-296-5469
Bars and Restaurants in Smoke-Free Cities Have
82% Less Air Pollution Than Cities That
Allow Smoking, Seven-City Study Finds
CDC Recently Advised Persons With Heart Disease to Avoid Smoky
Establishments
Washington, DC – Bars and restaurants in cities that protect workers and
patrons with smoke-free workplace laws have dramatically lower levels
of indoor air pollution than those without such protections, according to a
study released today.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute
in Buffalo, used state-of-the-art air pollution monitors to measure the
levels of fine particulate air pollution in the bars and restaurants of seven
major U.S. cities. Three of the cities – Buffalo, New York and Los
Angeles – have comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws covering
restaurants and bars, and four – Baltimore, Washington, DC,
Philadelphia, and Hoboken, NJ – do not have such laws.
The study found that air pollution levels were 82 percent lower on
average in venues required by law to be smoke-free compared to those
where smoking was permitted. In cities without smoke-free laws, full-
time bar and restaurant employees are exposed on the job to more than
four times the average annual limits of fine particulate air pollution
recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
study found.
The study found that New York City’s restaurants and bars had the
lowest level of air pollution, followed in order by Buffalo, Los Angeles,
Hoboken, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC, which had the
highest levels of indoor air pollution.
Average Level of Indoor Air Pollution in Places in States that
Allow Smoking and States That Don't.
Average PM 2.5 level (μg/m 3 )
400
293
300
200
100 53
0
Smoke-free Venues Smoking Venues
Average PM 2.5 level (μg/m 3)
Lo
s
0
100
200
300
400
500
An
ge
le
s
94
Bu
f fa
lo
27
Ba
lti
m
or
W e
as
293
hi
ng
to
n ,D
C
392
Ph
ila
d el
ph
ia
254
H
ob
ok
en
N
231
ew
Yo
Average Level of Indoor Air Pollution in Each City Sampled
r k
C
ity
25
April 25, 2004
So a Guy Walks Into a Bar With an Air
Monitor...
Richard Perez-Pena
It takes a toll, being the scientist who has to measure the air quality
in bar after bar around the East and West Coasts, wearily checking
for smoke particles between beers.
"You go to a bar, have a beer, go to another bar," said Mark Travers,
a 28-year-old doctoral candidate at the University at Buffalo, part of
the State University of New York. He carried his sophisticated
monitoring equipment in a shoulder case.
"By the end of the night, you aren't so motivated to pick up and go on
to the next bar," he said. "Occupational hazard. I'm not really
complaining, 'Oh, I have to go bar-hopping again.' But I definitely
don't go in to work early like I used to."
Nonetheless, after months of arduous research, Mr. Travers and other
scientists at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo have reached a
significant conclusion about indoor air in Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg's New York, a year after the city banned smoking in all
bars and restaurants: The atmosphere in them has, on average, less
than one-tenth as many fine particles and other harmful chemicals as
in cities where smoking is still allowed. When they looked only at
bars, and only late at night when the indoor haze was thickest, the
contrast to New York City was much sharper.
While the results he gathered may not be terribly surprising, the
study, financed in part by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an
antismoking group, put a numerical stamp on the still-new
New York City
• ―Since the law went into effect,
business receipts for restaurants and
bars have increased, employment
has risen, virtually all
establishments are complying with
the law, and the number of new
liquor licenses issued has
increased—all signs that New York
City bars and restaurants are
prospering.‖
“The State of Smoke-Free New York City: A One-Year Review”, March 2004.
Clearing the Air in New York City
As Air Clears, Even Smokers Are Converted
James McBratney, president of February 6, 2005
the Staten Island Restaurant By JIM RUTENBERG and LILY KOPPEL
and Tavern Association. Back in 2002, when the City Council was weighing
"The crystal ball that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's proposal to eliminate
smoking from all indoor public places, few opponents
people are looking at were more fiercely outspoken than James McBratney,
president of the Staten Island Restaurant and Tavern
to project economic Association.
stability is not good He frequently ripped Mr. Bloomberg as a billionaire
dictator with a prohibitionist streak that would undo
enough for me." small businesses like his bar and his restaurant. Visions
October 11, 2002 of customers streaming to the legally smoke-filled pubs
New York Daily News
of New Jersey kept him awake at night.
Asked last week what he thought of the now
two-year-old ban, Mr. McBratney sounded
changed. ''I have to admit,'' he said
sheepishly, ''I've seen no falloff in business in
either establishment.'' He went on to describe
what he once considered unimaginable:
Customers actually seem to like it, and so does
he.
NIGHT LIFE RISES FROM ASHES OF SMOKING BAN
By KENNETH LOVETT and PERRY CHIARAMONTE
The Big Apple's night life is still thriving, despite predictions it would go up in smoke because of the ban on butts, a new state study shows.
The first-time study by the state Department of Taxation and Finance - a copy of which was obtained by The Post - shows that while tavern business in the city dipped
the first six months after the smoking ban went into effect in March 2003, it has been rebounding steadily since.
The study, which for the first time separated out the sales at bars from restaurants, also showed the smoking ban had even less of an initial impact on restaurants,
where business has grown at a faster rate than at watering holes.
"Certainly there was a short-term impact in the middle of 2003, but clearly since then business hasn't suffered," said state Tax and Finance spokesman Thomas Bergin.
"As a matter of fact, business has improved."
Many bar workers and patrons are not surprised.
"We have smokers who come here that are still upset that they have to go outside, but people find a way to deal with it," said Lucie, a bartender at Milady's on Prince
Street.
Samir Hadjarab, manager of Red Bench Bar on Sullivan Street, added, "It was quiet for a while, but now a majority of my customers are nonsmokers."
According to the state study, sales-tax revenue collected from bars dropped 5.9 percent and 7.8 percent during the first two quarters following the implementation of
the city ban - the largest declines experienced since business dropped 17 percent right after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
But since September 2003, bar business has begun climbing again, whereas statewide, it has dropped or remained relatively flat since the state smoking ban went into
effect July 2003.
For the quarter beginning last June and ending in August, city bars and taverns reported $73.2 million in sales taxes, a healthy 3.8 percent increase over the same
period in 2003.
Business even increased slightly during the winter months of late 2003 and early 2004, when smokers had to get used to going outside and lighting up, despite the cold
and snow.
State tax officials contend that the numbers are evidence that, despite dire predictions by bar owners and pro-smoking forces, the ban has not decimated the city's
bustling night-life industry.
But Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association, said the increase in state sales taxes that were collected from bars can
likely be pinned to a quarter-percent increase in the sales tax enacted by the state, as well as to establishments being forced to increase drink prices to make up for lost
business.
Still, many customers told The Post they are happy with the smoke-free environment.
"It's more enjoyable," said Howard Glassman, 34, a nonsmoking patron at the Bleecker Street Bar. "People are pretty adaptive, and over time, they have gotten over
it."
Yvonne, a bartender at Tom and Jerry's on Elizabeth Street, said: "I still see a lot of smokers coming out. They go outside, and it's become a very social thing."