Altria Group Inc (MO)

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EDITORIAL: Indoor Smoking Bans: Philip Morris butts back in

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MarketWatch
03:48 a.m. 06/07/2007


Jun 07, 2007 (The Philadelphia Inquirer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Just before the World Health Organization celebrated its annual World No Tobacco Day last week, the people who created the Marlboro Man took a moment to remind the public of their position on indoor smoking bans.

As if you couldn't guess, officials at the nation's largest cigarette company -- Philip Morris USA -- are against indoor smoking bans. Well, duh.

In a news release put out by its Pittsburgh press agent, Philip Morris also sounded this warning: "We have decided to engage on this issue with legislators and other interested parties when we believe we can help shape reasonable measures to regulate smoking in public places."

In other words, Philip Morris plans to throw its considerable lobbying weight around Harrisburg and other state capitals where smoke-free laws are under discussion.

This represents a change, the company said, from 2005 and 2006, when the firm "did not lobby or participate in any coalition activity related to smoking restrictions."

Little wonder Philip Morris has chosen this year to jump into the fray with both feet: There's a growing movement across the country to protect every workplace, as well as patrons of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, from the well-documented dangers of secondhand smoke.

Abroad, even Irish pubs are smoke-free by law.

New Jersey already is reaping the health benefits from its statewide indoor smoking ban (with a partial exemption for Atlantic City casino floors). Ohio just joined neighboring states in going smoke-free, and polls show three-quarters of all American families ban smoking at home.

Philadelphia's smoke-free law has transformed nightlife and restaurants for the better, and the city's 2006 ordinance serves as a good model for the statewide limits that Gov. Rendell wants to enact to further his "Prescription for Pennsylvania" health-care reforms.

But the tobacco industry proved that it can fight back, winning a court decision to strike down Allegheny County's progressive smoke-free law before it was put into play.

That boosts the stakes in Harrisburg. Pittsburgh's inability so far to clear its own air should convince legislators of the urgent need to pass the strong statewide smoke-free bill sponsored by State Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf (R., Montgomery).

Should Philip Morris lobbyists come calling, Pennsylvania lawmakers may hear how the company "agrees that people should be able to avoid being around secondhand smoke."

But they'll also be told, according to the firm's policy, that "reasonable ways exist to respect the comfort and choices of both non-smoking and smoking adults."

At bars and restaurants, Philip Morris says, the public should be able to "choose whether to frequent places where smoking is permitted."

Too bad about the employees who have to work in smoking areas. Their right to choose, presumably, is to get another job.

As for protecting patrons and workers from secondhand smoke, the tobacco industry policy ignores a key finding by health professionals and the U.S. surgeon general that there is no risk-free level of secondhand-smoke exposure. So-called no-smoking areas are useless in protecting people fully.

Enacting smoke-free laws is the best means to protect the health of patrons and workplaces.

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