Free the Night, a TSETfunded program that helps bars and venues adopt voluntary smokefree policies, just recorded its 50th win.
Edna’s, an iconic staple in Oklahoma City’s nightlife, followed through with a New Year’s resolution and went smokefree on January 1.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Tammy Lucas, Edna’s owner and manager. “My mom is Edna. She passed away a few years ago from lung cancer, and I think that really motivated me. It’s not easy to make the transition, but it’s been worth it.”
Oklahoma currently has loopholes in its clean indoor air policies that allow more than 30,000 workers and business owners to be exposed to hazardous secondhand smoke.
“Our crowd has always been young and as we’ve transitioned to nonsmoking, more people are becoming aware of the impact of smoking,” Lucas said. “Our employees appreciate not leaving work smelling like cigarettes, and that they don’t have to worry about it affecting their health. Another positive is that we don’t have to worry about our merchandise smelling like smoke.”
Oklahoma is one of a handful of states that does not allow municipalities to pass policies to protect workers. State laws would have to change to protect all Oklahoma workers.
“I would love to see a law passed that pushes bars to go smokefree,” Lucas said. “It would be healthier for everyone and level the playing field for all bars.”
In the absence of state law protection, TSET funds Free The Night to provide resources to business owners that want to go smokefree. Free The Night assists with surveys of bar patrons and education efforts once a smokefree policy is adopted. This program is just one way TSET works to fulfill its Constitutional mandate to “reduce the toll of tobacco” on Oklahomans.
Learn more at freethenightok.org.