Read why the U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that adopting smokefree workplace policies is a wise business decision: http://no-smoke.org/pdf/businesscosts.pdf
 

An employer’s toolkit for creating a smoke-free establishment is available at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/SmokingAndTobacco/EmployersToolkit.pdf
 

Socially responsible businesses consider that allowing smoking in their establishment harms the health of their workers and patrons. Naturally, many businesses consider only the bottom line. Well, consider this:
 

Over 75% of St. Charles residents are more likely to patronize a smoke-free restaurant.
 

Taxable sales for eating and drinking places in Maryville increased 11.35% after enactment of the city’s smokefree restaurant ordinance. During the same time period, taxable sales for eating and drinking places in Missouri increased 5.25%, less than half that of Maryville.
 

Businesses pay an average of $2,189 in workers’ compensation costs for smokers compared with $176 for nonsmokers.
 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that smokefree restaurants can expect to save about $190 per 1,000 square feet each year in lower cleaning and maintenance costs.
 

Estimated costs to employers for secondhand smoke effects on non-smoking employees can add up to $490 per smoker annually.
 

When an employee quits smoking, it can save an employer an estimated $960 in excess illness costs each year.
 

Q: Aren’t there special air filtration systems that can remove secondhand smoke?
No. No feasible ventilation system can reduce secondhand smoke exposure to safe levels. At best, these specialized air filtration systems can only remove the irritants and odors caused by secondhand smoke. However, many of the toxins in secondhand smoke are odorless and invisible. Secondhand smoke is often not detected, which leave most people unaware of the extent to which they are actually exposed. Every reputable technical, scientific and medical expert, and even the companies that manufacture these ventilation systems agree that these systems cannot eliminate health risks due to secondhand smoke.