Nevadans strongly support banning smoking in restaurants and in grocery and convenience stores, a statewide Review-Journal poll shows.
Sixty-three percent of 625 registered voters polled would approve the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, which awaits approval from a judge for placement on the November ballot. A similar but less restrictive measure, the Responsibly Protect Nevadans from Second-Hand Smoke Act, isn't far behind in support, the poll shows.
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Backed by the gaming industry, that initiative, which has already qualified for the ballot, would receive 57 percent of the vote if an election was held today.
Brad Coker, managing partner of Washington, D.C.'s Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., which conducted the survey April 3-5, said he wasn't surprised voters supported both initiatives. He believes the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act has the upper hand because it is broader.
"Every smoking referendum I've ever polled has passed and I don't think Nevada is any different. What's unique about Nevada is that there is controversy in having two competing smoking initiatives. The one with the highest percentage, should they both make the ballot, wins,'' he said.
"The (Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act) is more restrictive and, I think, if both make the ballot, I would be surprised if it doesn't pass.''
The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act would eliminate smoking on school grounds, in day-care centers, shopping malls, video arcades and grocery and convenience stores. But it also bans smoking in bars that serve food, and in restaurants.
The competition's measure would ban smoking on school grounds, day-care centers and video arcades. However, it allows smoking in slot machine sections of grocery and convenience stores, and in designated areas of bars and restaurants restricted to adults age 21 and older.
The poll shows that a wide range of registered voters -- regardless of gender, political affiliation or geographical location -- support both initiatives.
"I think, like any poll, it's both good news and bad news,'' said Michael Hackett, campaign manager for the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, which is backed by a coalition known as Nevadans for Tobacco-Free Kids. "The good news is, it shows that voters want change and they know our initiative is the one that will provide change. The bad news is, it shows voters are not fully aware of what the competitive initiative is. This will not provide the changes they expect.''
Sean Higgins, president of the Nevada Retail Gaming Association, said he's not surprised by the poll results either. He said the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act has language in it that can be confusing to citizens and could end up prohibiting smoking in hotels.
Last year, Higgins and others in the gaming and tavern industry filed a lawsuit to prevent the initiative from appearing on the ballot.
A judge has yet to decide on the matter.
Banning smoking in bars and restaurants of a state with a tourism-based economy "is going too far," Higgins said.
"There's a saying in that, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.' Our tourists want that kind of freedom,'' he said. "In the end, I think we will have the stronger message that still protects children.''
Hackett made similar comments about the gaming industry's initiative. He said it has a lot of "feel-good language" in it as well.
Coker said there's language in both initiatives that is enticing to voters, such as when they refer to places where children can be.
"A lot of school systems have nonsmoking policies in place and you wouldn't expect people to smoke at day-care centers so having them within the language does draw attention,'' he said. "People tend to feel that those are places where people should not smoke.''
Charlene Herst, supervisor of the Office of Tobacco Control within the state's Department of Health and Human Services, said there are already laws in place that ban smoking on school grounds, in public buildings, and in hospital areas.
In the last legislative session, smoking was banned in child day-care centers that are licensed and certified, except for those with fewer than five children. Smoking was also banned in video arcades with 10 or more machines.
