New Survey Shows DeKalb
Residents Support Smoking Ban
(PATCH Recognizes DeKalb County
Commissioner Burrell Ellis' Leadership)

According to a recent survey of DeKalb registered voters, 77 percent of respondents support the revised Clean Indoor Air Ordinance that limits smoking in most public places including restaurants, work sites and public spaces. To celebrate the passing of the new ordinance, the Prevention Alliance for Tobacco Control and Health (PATCH) is hosting an event to honor DeKalb County Commissioner Burrell Ellis, District 4, for his leadership in championing the ordinance. The event takes place on Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at Los Bravos Restaurant in the North Decatur Square shopping center at 2895 N. Decatur Road from 5pm to 7pm .The community is invited.

"DeKalb County is breathing easier since the ordinance went into effect on February 17, 2003," said Ellis. "The overwhelming positive response shows the community wants smoke-free air. We are counting on residents to follow the ordinance and help create the reality of a smoke-free DeKalb County."

According to the Shapiro survey, DeKalb residents prefer smoke-free dining. Seventy-nine percent ask for a non-smoking section every time they dine out and 64 percent think smoking should not be allowed at all inside restaurants. Sixty-one percent are more likely to dine at a restaurant if it is completely smoke-free.

"We remodeled and went smoke-free before the ordinance went into effect. We've seen a big improvement-our sales have increased and it's great for families. No one is huddled by the front door waiting for a table in the non-smoking section," said Jerome Smith, a Folks manager. "All of our loyal customers who were initially concerned about the policy are still here. The food is the main thing."

Passed by the DeKalb County Commissioners in a 5-2 vote, the ordinance marks the first government-enacted policy in metro Atlanta as well as the first county-wide policy in Georgia to ban smoking in public places.

"We've seen an increase in our servers' tips because they are waiting on more tables. Now that we don't have a smoking section, the wait time at lunch has been cut down considerably and our servers have more customers," said Gina Perrat, St. Charles Deli manager. "Although there was initial disappointment about the ban, people were happy once it went into effect."

One of the major revisions to the ordinance is that all restaurants are now completely smoke-free; previously, a no-smoking section was required in only restaurants with a seating capacity of 50 or more. Bars that gross more than 50 percent of sales from beverages are exempt from the revised ordinance, as well as all buildings in incorporated DeKalb, namely the municipalities of Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Decatur, Doraville, Chamblee, Clarkston, Lithonia, Pine Lake and Stone Mountain.

Business owners effected by the ordinance are required to post no-smoking signs, and fines will be imposed upon violators of the smoking ban. The ordinance is enforced by DeKalb County police officers.

"PATCH commends the leadership of our DeKalb County elected officials, especially Commissioner Ellis, who was a champion of our cause to make DeKalb communities healthier by eliminating secondhand smoke exposure," said Faye Lyons-Gary, co-chair of the PATCH secondhand smoke committee. "We are educating the community about the ordinance through paid advertisements and brochures. We also plan to work with the nine DeKalb municipalities in adopting 100 percent smoke-free work site policies."

For more information on the ordinance, contact Commissioner Ellis' office at 404-371-4907 or bellis@co.dekalb.ga.us. For more information on how to create a smoke-free work site, contact Keisha Shropshire, secondhand smoke specialist, DeKalb County Board of Health at 404-294-3750 or klshropshire@gdph.state.ga.us.

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