University of Colorado at Boulder officials said recently that a community-enforced smoking ban enacted in 2013 isn’t working. (Helen H. Richardson, Denver Post file)
Re: “The lesson from CU smoking ban,” March 10 editorial.
We applaud the University of Colorado for adopting a smoke-free campus policy. Smoking is devastating for the health and economics of our state. Health care and lost productivity costs from cigarettes exceed $1 billion in Colorado yearly.
The Denver Post is incorrect that smoke-free policies are about shaming smokers or that “some” smokers want to quit. Smoke-free policies across the country have been very effective reducing tobacco and non-tobacco users exposure to the dangerous chemicals in tobacco smoke and in decreasing use among adults and youth. In a 2000 statewide survey, 85 percent of Colorado’s smokers reported considering quitting.
The Post implying police resources will be drained focusing on smoke-free policies is what we heard when bars and restaurants went smoke-free statewide. That did not happen. The CU policy is helping to build a healthy, competitive workforce which benefits everyone — except Big Tobacco.
Cindy Liverance,Greenwood Village
The writer is chair of the Colorado Tobacco Free Alliance, a coalition of statewide organizations working on tobacco use and smoke-free policies.
This letter was published in the March 16 edition.
