Billy Bob’s smoking ban

Billy Bob’s smoking

Hats off to Billy Bob’s Texas for becoming smoke-free!

I applaud the leaders of Billy Bob’s, one of our nation’s largest nightclubs, for prioritizing the health of guests, employees and entertainers.

With more than 800,000 residents, Fort Worth is the largest Texas city without a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance.

While smoking is prohibited in many public places — including restaurants, bars in restaurants, bowling alleys and offices — smoking is still allowed in bars and bingo parlors. Thousands of employees are exposed to dangerous levels of secondhand smoke at work every day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke significantly increase their risk of heart disease, stroke or lung cancer.

Through my 15 years as a family practice physician for John Peter Smith Hospital and longtime volunteer for the American Cancer Society, I’m committed to cancer prevention and early detection. I’ve agreed to co-chair Smoke-Free Fort Worth, a new organization you’ll hear more about soon.

The science is clear on secondhand smoke. Thank you, Billy Bob’s.

On behalf of the board of the American Heart Association Tarrant County, I’d like to thank Billy Bob’s for eliminating smoking indoors. The move contributes to Fort Worth’s profile as a healthy community to live, work and play.

Billy Bob’s is not only responding to its patrons, but is implementing a policy that 50 Texas cities have adopted citywide to protect workers and community members from secondhand smoke.

Workers like bartenders and waiters are significantly less protected from this threat. Employees in a restaurant or bar that allows smoking are exposed to more than 7,000 chemicals that cause heart disease, lung cancer and other serious illnesses.

I hope our community will join us in applauding Billy Bob’s. Smoke-free policies are not only good for public health, but for business as well.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Billy Bob’s smoking ban."