Papa Del’s Pizza in Champaign Goes Smoke-Free
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2005
Contact
Nikki Hillier, Health Educator Community Health Surveillance, Planning and Education
217-531-2914
Diana Yates, Communications Coordinator
217-531-4275
Papa Del’s Pizza in Champaign Goes Smoke-Free
Public Health to Award Smoke Free Recognition Certificate on October 13
“I’ve been thinking about going smoke-free for a long time. I was hoping it would be done city-wide but then when the [Champaign] city council didn’t do it I decided I should just go ahead.” –Bob Monti, Owner, Papa Del’s Pizza
CHAMPAIGN – Papa Del’s Pizza, at 206 E. Green Street, Champaign, is now a smoke-free restaurant. Owner Bob Monti chose to make his restaurant smoke-free this week, adding his establishment to a growing list of eateries that are getting rid of their smoking sections altogether.
Monti said several factors contributed to his decision to go smoke-free. First, trying to keep smoke from non-smokers was a constant hassle, even with the elaborate exhaust systems and filters he installed to do the job. The task was especially difficult whenever Papa Del’s hosted large parties and the non-smokers had to be moved to remote areas of the restaurant to escape the smoke.
Another factor was Monti’s health concerns. “All my aunts and uncles that smoked died of smoking related diseases,” said Monti. The only ones still living never smoked, he said.
“I’ve been thinking about going smoke-free for a long time,” Monti said. “I was hoping it would be done city-wide but when the [Champaign] city council didn’t do it I decided I should just go ahead.”
"We are very excited by the decision of Papa Del's to become a smoke-free establishment," said Scott Hays, President of the C-U Smokefree Alliance. "Restaurant owners from across the city support a smoke-free policy, but many would like the city to establish a consistent city-wide policy first. Yet, many restauranteurs such as Mr. Monti feel that being smoke-free is important enough to move forward with – whether the city acts or not."
At 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 13, representatives of Public Health will give Papa Del’s a certificate from the Illinois Smoke-free Restaurant Recognition Program. This statewide program recognizes restaurants that have gone entirely smoke-free and raises public awareness to the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke. Establishments choosing to participate in the program receive the certificate and are listed on the Department’s web site (http://www.idph.state.il.us/tobacco/smoke-freelisting.htm). Papa Del’s will also appear in the Champaign County Smoke Free Restaurant Guide.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that second-hand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels indoors. Workers in businesses that allow smoking indoors 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.
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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:
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Protect the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places and places of employment
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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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