Palmetto State flunks anti-tobacco efforts

South Carolina is one of 14 in the U.S. that received all F’s on a report card grading each states’ ability to create laws that protect residents from tobacco-caused illnesses, the American Lung Association announced.

The association’s State of Tobacco Control 2009 report grades states on four points: tobacco prevention and control programs, cessation treatments, state cigarette taxes and strong smoke-free air laws.

South Carolina, along with many southern states including Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Missouri, received the lowest scores possible on all these points, according to the American Lung Association.

The report showed only three states in the union passed strong smoke-free air laws, meeting the the association’s Smoke-free Air Challenge of 2009: Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The year before, only two states met the challenge.

The association asserts there is evidence showing states with strong smoke-free air laws have have fewer adult smokers in their populations.

On a local level, Florence City Council voted down a proposed ordinance in November that would have imposed a smoking ban in most public places within city limits.

In a 4-3 vote, council members decided against a ban that would have prohibited smoking in such places as restaurants, bars, educational and health care facilities and common areas of apartment buildings.

Last year wasn’t the first time the issue of a smoking ban has been discussed before city council.

In December 2005, a group of residents came before the body during a council work session to discuss a smoking ban, Florence City Manager David Williams said.

The group mainly sought to ban smoking in restaurants, he said. City council did take what was discussed as information, but it didn’t go any further than that.

South Carolina and 40 more states received low grades from the association because available funding for tobacco prevention and control didn’t meet the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nine states reduced funding for such programs, according to the American Lung Association.

Fourteen states, less South Carolina, increased the sales tax on cigarettes.

South Carolina has the lowest cigarette sales tax in the nation at 7 cents, but some lawmakers wanted to change that 2009. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, sponsored a bill to raise the tax by 50 cents, but it didn’t happen.

About 46 million adults in the United States today smoke tobacco.

Tobacco use and second-hand smoke has been linked to several health problems, including lung cancer and emphysema.

For more information about the American Lung Association and the resources it offers, visit http://www.lungusa.org online.

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