Cancer Society Survey Says State Favors Smoking Ban

The American Cancer Society says a survey it conducted shows a majority of Tennesseans is in favor of a smoking ban in restaurants and offices.

The organization surveyed 600 registered voters across the state in October.

The results say 70-percent of the state’s citizens believe smoking shouldn’t be allowed in public places. Earlier this year, Governor Phil Bredesen signed a bill that banned smoking in all state owned buildings. The state’s chapter of the American Cancer Society says the Governor’s support showed them that maybe a door is opening to press for further bans.

Former smoker Nancy Skinner is in favor of that. She’s a lung-cancer survivor, who says she cringes each time she walks into a smoky room.

“It is a challenge and I think the most effective thing we can do is legislate some change because there’s going to be those folks that are going to want to continue to smoke and that is certainly their decision. But for those people who have never smoked, we need to protect them so that they are not exposed to second hand smoke and the risks that are associated with it.”

For years, efforts to reduce smoking by raising the cigarette tax have been rebuffed by state legislators. The American Cancer Society says it hopes that the next General Assembly will jumpstart a bill that aims to ban smoking in all workplaces.