Surfside Beach passes first reading of smoke-free ordinance

July 9, 2007

Surfside Beach, SC - Tonight, Surfside Beach Town Council approved a first reading of a smoke-free indoor workplace and public place ordinance by a vote of 5-2.  The measure will be finalized after an upcoming second reading of the ordinance. If passed, Surfside Beach will become the eleventh local municipality to enact a smoke-free ordinance in the state of South Carolina since May of 2006.

Town Hall was filled to capacity with both supporters and opponents.  Supporters included representatives from B.R.E.A.T.H.E. Coalition of Horry County, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, SC DHEC, and many local residents.  A local retired teacher offered, "A person's right to swing their arm ends where another person's nose begins, the same rule should apply to secondhand smoke." Another resident, a former smoker, said, "This is the right time, and the right place."

Health organizations were strongly represented at the meeting.  "The American Lung Association Southeast Region is excited about the steps Surfside Beach is taking toward protecting its workers and the public from exposure to secondhand smoke," said Katrina Taylor, Regional Director.  Dianne Wilson of the South Carolina African American Tobacco Control Network said, "It's a win for workers."  Dan Carrigan of the Smoke-free Action Network added, "The only way we will overcome our health disparities in South Carolina is by passing laws like these that protect everyone's right to breathe clean air."

Opponents generally emphasized a business owner's right to decide
whether or not to be smoke-free, and did not address public health
issues.  One business owner even threatened to sue the city should the state later revoke local governments' decision-making power over smoke-free laws.  One resident said, "I raised six children and my wife and I both smoke, and they turned out alright."

Council Member Judith K. Tuttle is credited with promoting the smoke-free ordinance for the town. "This law is about protecting everyone's right to breathe clean air," she said. Douglas F. Samples,
the only smoker on the council stated, "my mother was a waitress for 30 years."  He then stressed the public health focus of the smoke-free ordinance and declared his own support.  Council Member James F. (Sammy) Truett said, "The statistics are very glaring, the ordinance serves two purposes. We are helping protect public health and taking an opportunity to protect each other, our kids, and our grandkids."  Council member Joseph P. Martin also expressed support for the measure.

Only two council members voted against the ordinance.  Mayor Roy Hyman Jr. directly addressed supporters of the ordinance: "If this thing doesn't pass (and you don't like it), move somewhere else," said the Mayor.  Council member William M. McKown said the ordinance was "a direct attack on our personal and civil rights."

An implementation date for the smoke-free ordinance has not yet been set.

Contact: Dan Carrigan, Smoke-free Action Network
(843) 509-5272, dancarrigan@msn.com

Dianne Wilson, Smoke-free Action Network
(843) 871-9439, cwilson298@aol.com