Smoking Ban for Bars in Shreveport Could Be Voted on This Week

The Shreveport Council is set to vote on a smoke free ordinance on Tuesday. This measure would ban smoking in bars. Some council members want to expand that to include casinos. But some members don't think they have enough votes to expand the ban to the gambling venues.

Ashley Hebert with the American Heart Association has been pushing to get the casinos included in the ban. The AHA says all workers should be protected from secondhand smoke. The release from the organization says:

Secondhand smoke and vapor is a serious health hazard for nonsmokers. In fact, studies show that the risk of developing heart disease is about 25-30 percent higher among people exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work.

Hebert told the council this current measure exempts casinos and gaming operations in Shreveport’s Smoke-free Air Act. She says "this failure to update the city’s ordinance in a comprehensive way that prohibits smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes at both bars and casinos falls short of protecting Shreveport hospitality workers and patrons – and will further exacerbate the history of health disparity in Louisiana."

Smoking is already banned in casinos in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Click here to see a list of all smoke-free casinos in the country.

The American Heart Association opposes Resolution 51 as written and implores the Council to amend the ordinance to include casinos and gaming facilities. No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck.