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Mini Poll: RU A Smoker

"It’s easy to quit smoking. I've done it hundreds of times."
— Mark Twain

St. Louis played a prominent and important role in the early history of tobacco use. It was here that John E. Liggett and his staff rolled the first blended tobacco cigarettes in the 1840s – and were dominating the plug tobacco business and the cigarette sector by the 1880s.

So successful was Mr. Liggett's business that his widow was able to give $100,000 to Washington University for a dorm to be built in her husband's name, and this building was leased to the 1904 World's Fair Committee for the expo’s administration. In all, three Wash U buildings have borne the Liggett name.

St. Louisans smoke more than the national average, yet less than residents of Cleveland or Indianapolis. And, we smoke in more places than do residents of Chicago or Rockford – where smoking in public spaces is restricted as part of a statewide ban. Smoking is banned in most government buildings in St. Louis, including the jails.

Illinois’ statewide ban, which has no exceptions, has gotten a lot of local attention. Although lauded by anti-smoking activists and many people with hair, some Illinois businesses and smokers have a different point of view. St. Louis TV stations have interviewed the owners of some small Illinois bars and restaurants who fear the smoking ban will force them out of business.

The data supporting that fear is still incomplete. The Valentine's Day edition of the Kansas City Star headlined a story that "Illinois Ban is Missouri Casinos’ Gain," and a national trade journal reported that gaming revenues in Illinois plunged 17.4 percent during the first month of the ban.

Is it a good thing that smokers flee across the Mississippi to use our casinos, restaurants and entertainment venues – and leave behind their taxes? Do you think Missouri should join Illinois and 20 or so other states to ban smoking in public places, or do you think that Missourians are smart enough to figure it out themselves?

Answer this week's Mini Poll about smoking bans, and we promise not to tell your partner where you keep that old pack of cancer sticks.

Are you a smoker?

Yes
No
No, but I used to be

Do believe that smoking is bad for one's health?

Yes
Yes, but the claims are exaggerated
No

Would you support a ban of smoking in public places throughout Missouri?

Yes
No

Would you support a ban of smoking in public places throughout St. Louis County and St. Louis City, even if smoking remained legal in St. Charles County and Jefferson County?

Yes
No

Would you support a ban of smoking in public places in St. Louis City, even if smoking remained legal in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County?

Yes
No

For which of the following places would you be most willing to grant an exception to a ban of smoking in public places?

Casinos
Neighborhood bars
Mom and pop restaurants
Airports
Jails
Hospitals
Courts
Sorry, no exceptions

Have you ever sneaked a cigarette in a place in which you shouldn't have smoked?

Yes
No

Do you think that Sen. Barack Obama has sneaked a cigarette since he quit?

Yes
No

Do you think that seeing actors smoke on television or in the movies increases smoking in the general population?

Yes
No

Do you think that television shows and movies should be banned from showing images of smoking?

Yes
No

Have you ever asked a stranger to refrain from smoking?

Yes, I do it all the time
Yes, I do it once in a while
No

Have you ever based a dating decision on whether or not someone smoked?

Yes
No

Do you decide which restaurants to frequent based on whether or not smoking is allowed?

I will not frequent a restaurant that bans all smoking
I will not frequent a restaurant that allows any smoking
Smoking policy is not the determinative factor when deciding where to eat

What should be the legal minimum age to buy cigarettes in the City of St. Louis?

18
21
30
40
55
70

Which of the following is the most likely target of regulators after smoking is banned in public places?

Alcohol
Talking too loudly
Age inappropriate cell phone rings
Fatty foods on the menu
Dancing on tables in places other than St. Charles
Public Displays of Affection (PDA)

Mini Poll:

Do you protest?
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Read about Mayor Francis G. Slay
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"It’s easy to quit smoking. I've done it hundreds of times." — Mark Twain

St. Louis played a prominent and important role in the early history of tobacco use. It was here that John E. Liggett and his staff rolled the first blended tobacco cigarettes in the 1840s – and were dominating the plug tobacco business and the cigarette sector by the 1880s.

The data supporting that fear is still incomplete. The Valentine's Day edition of the Kansas City Star headlined a story that "Illinois Ban is Missouri Casinos’ Gain," and a national trade journal reported that gaming revenues in Illinois plunged 17.4 percent during the first month of the ban.

Answer this week's Mini Poll about smoking bans, and we promise not to tell your partner where you keep that old pack of cancer sticks.

Are you a smoker?

Yes No No, but I used to be

Do believe that smoking is bad for one's health?

Yes Yes, but the claims are exaggerated No

Would you support a ban of smoking in public places throughout Missouri?

Yes No

Would you support a ban of smoking in public places throughout St. Louis County and St. Louis City, even if smoking remained legal in St. Charles County and Jefferson County?

Yes No

Would you support a ban of smoking in public places in St. Louis City, even if smoking remained legal in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County?

Yes No

For which of the following places would you be most willing to grant an exception to a ban of smoking in public places?

Casinos Neighborhood bars Mom and pop restaurants Airports Jails Hospitals Courts Sorry, no exceptions

Have you ever sneaked a cigarette in a place in which you shouldn't have smoked?

Yes No

Do you think that Sen. Barack Obama has sneaked a cigarette since he quit?

Yes No

Do you think that seeing actors smoke on television or in the movies increases smoking in the general population?

Yes No

Do you think that television shows and movies should be banned from showing images of smoking?

Yes No

Have you ever asked a stranger to refrain from smoking?

Yes, I do it all the time Yes, I do it once in a while No

Have you ever based a dating decision on whether or not someone smoked?

Yes No

Do you decide which restaurants to frequent based on whether or not smoking is allowed?

I will not frequent a restaurant that bans all smoking I will not frequent a restaurant that allows any smoking Smoking policy is not the determinative factor when deciding where to eat

What should be the legal minimum age to buy cigarettes in the City of St. Louis?

18 21 30 40 55 70

Which of the following is the most likely target of regulators after smoking is banned in public places?

Alcohol Talking too loudly Age inappropriate cell phone rings Fatty foods on the menu Dancing on tables in places other than St. Charles Public Displays of Affection (PDA)

"It’s easy to quit smoking. I've done it hundreds of times."
— Mark Twain

Yes
No
No, but I used to be

Yes
Yes, but the claims are exaggerated
No

Yes
No

Yes
No

Yes
No

Casinos
Neighborhood bars
Mom and pop restaurants
Airports
Jails
Hospitals
Courts
Sorry, no exceptions

Yes
No

Yes
No

Yes
No

Yes
No

Yes, I do it all the time
Yes, I do it once in a while
No

Yes
No

I will not frequent a restaurant that bans all smoking
I will not frequent a restaurant that allows any smoking
Smoking policy is not the determinative factor when deciding where to eat

18
21
30
40
55
70

Alcohol
Talking too loudly
Age inappropriate cell phone rings
Fatty foods on the menu
Dancing on tables in places other than St. Charles
Public Displays of Affection (PDA)