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Editor
Seven bars and membership clubs in Beech Grove were honored by Beech Grove Mayor Jim Coffman with a city proclamation that declared Sept. 3 as Smokefree Business Appreciation Day.
The proclamation was read at the Sept. 3 City Council meeting and recognized businesses that have elected to go smokefree indoors.
The bars and membership clubs included O’Gara’s Irish Pub, 5th Ave. Bar and Grill, Scarlet Lane Brewing, Thirsty Turtle, American Legion Post 276, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, and Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1883.
Coffman emphasized that the community is encouraged to show their support for the local champions of healthy businesses.
The proclamation was the product of Breathe Easy Beech Grove, a tobacco prevention coalition that has been active in the municipality since 2017. The organization’s goal is a Beech Grove that is free of nicotine addiction and secondhand smoke.
The coalition advocates for a comprehensive smokefree air policy in Beech Grove that includes bars and membership clubs to protect all patrons and employees from secondhand smoke and aerosols/vapes indoors.
“The trend for the past 15 years is for bars and restaurants to go smokefree,” said Taylor Williams, an advocacy specialist with the American Lung Association of Indiana and member of Breathe Easy Beech Grove. “Businesses have recognized that it is better for their business if smoking is not allowed indoors.”
The smokefree indoor movement gained emphasis in 2006 with the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and breathing secondhand smoke causes disease in nonsmokers including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung cancer.
The proclamation also stated that “establishing smokefree indoor workplaces is the only effective way to ensure that secondhand smoke exposure does not occur in the workplace.”
The proclamation also praised the Beech Grove bars and membership clubs that voluntarily established a smokefree business and are protecting their employees and patrons from secondhand smoke exposure. They are maintaining a safe and welcoming environment indoors.
Breathe Easy Beech Grove also provides tobacco and vaping education in Beech Grove through school presentations and hosting information tables at community events. The coalition is among sponsors of the outdoor concerts at Sarah T. Bolton Park. Upcoming concerts are Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. with The Indigos and Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. for an end-of-summer party with The Breakes and 800’s Band.
Info: email BreatheEasy [email protected]