Ned Kelly’s Hosts C-U Smoke Free Alliance Fundraiser
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2005
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Health Educator Community Health Surveillance, Planning and Education
217-531-2914
Diana Yates, Communications Coordinator
217-531-4275
Ned Kelly’s Hosts C-U Smoke Free Alliance Fundraiser
On August 15, Ten Percent of Proceeds Will Go to Smoke Free Workplace Effort
“We came to feel that the best thing to do for our management, our staff and our non-smoking guests was to provide a healthy environment at all locations. This isn’t about them (smokers) and us (non-smokers). This is about health.”
-- John Schmitt, Managing Partner, Ned Kelly’s Steakhouse
Ned Kelly’s Steakhouse, at 1601 Cunningham Avenue in Urbana, will host a fundraiser for the C-U Smoke Free Alliance, a group dedicated to ensuring that workers, bartenders, musicians and all members of the public can work, play, eat and drink in healthy indoor environments.
On August 15, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., any diner at Ned Kelly’s who mentions the fundraiser will receive a 10 percent discount on his or her meal. And 10 percent of the cost of the meal will go to support the C-U Smoke Free Alliance.
Ned Kelly’s first went smoke free on February 1, 2005. Mr. Schmitt said management chose to eliminate its smoking section after getting a lot of smoke-related complaints on comment cards from customers.
His own health problems added to his resolve, said Mr. Schmitt. In September, 2004, he was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. His doctor asked him if he was a smoker, and when he said no the doctor suggested that his workplace exposure to smoke was contributing to his health problems.
“The doctor said, ‘Anything you can do to remove yourself from second-hand smoke is a good thing,’” Schmitt said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that second-hand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels indoors. Workers in businesses where smoking is allowed are at a greater risk for heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, cancer and respiratory disease. Patrons of such businesses may also suffer the ill effects of exposure to second-hand smoke.
Both the Champaign County Public Health Department and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District have voted to support a resolution calling for the elimination of second-hand smoke in public places.
The text of the resolution, sponsored by the C-U Smokefree Alliance, is provided below.
Resolution to Eliminate Secondhand Smoke in Public Places
Whereas, the U.S. Surgeon General has determined that simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space does not eliminate the exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.
Whereas, numerous studies have found that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution, and that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease in healthy nonsmokers, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute determined in 1999 that secondhand smoke is responsible for the early deaths of 65,000 Americans annually.
Whereas, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that secondhand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels in businesses by high rates of ventilation. Air cleaners, which are capable of filtering the particulate matter and odors in smoke, do not eliminate the known 5,000 chemicals - including arsenic, cyanide and formaldehyde and other toxins - in secondhand smoke.
Whereas, employees who work in smoke-filled businesses suffer a 25-50% higher risk of heart attack and higher rates of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as increased acute respiratory disease and measurable decrease in lung function.
Whereas, smoke-filled workplaces result in higher worker absenteeism due to respiratory disease, lower productivity, higher cleaning and maintenance costs, increased health insurance rates, and increased liability claims for diseases related to exposure to secondhand smoke.
Whereas, there is conclusive proof that smokefree air laws do not have adverse economic consequences for businesses subject to them; moreover, there is much evidence that smokefree air laws have a positive economic effect on those businesses.
Be it therefore resolved, that the undersigned organization endorses the C-U Smokefree Campaign, which will work to:
- Protect the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places and places of employment
- Guarantee the right of nonsmokers to breathe smoke-free air.
Be it therefore resolved, that the undersigned organization will:
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Inform its members and the general public of its endorsement of this Resolution
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Inform local elected officials of its endorsement and urge its members to do the same
Champaign County Public Health Department and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
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