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Proponents of a proposed statewide smoking ban that failed in the 2009 legislative session are set to press for the ban in the current session.  It is a battle that philosophically pits the interests of the public’s health and well-being against those of individual freedom and liberty. 

For a public health student and advocate, it is difficult to accept that concerns about personal freedom can win out over a health issue that is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States - known to cause lung cancer, heart disease, premature birth and low birthweight, along with other health issues.  Nonetheless, that is exactly what happened during the 2009 legislative session thanks to the lobbying of conservative free-enterprise groups.

However, one of the interim charges given to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee was to evaluate the impact a statewide smoking ban.  And earlier today the Smoke-Free Texas coalition and Texas Health Institute released results of a study carried out by researchers from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the UT School of Public Health, and the Texas A&M Health Science School of Rural Public Health, which indicate that a comprehensive ban on smoking will save the state and private-sector employers $404 million over two years.

The breakdown in savings includes:

• Over $108 million in health care savings to non-smokers who are no longer exposed to second-hand smoke, including $32 million averted medical costs from the reduction in low-birthweight babies caused by mothers being exposed to secondhand smoke.
• $142 million in health care cost savings to smokers who quit as a result of this legislation; and
• $154 million in productivity cost savings.

“Smokers earn roughly $2,000 per year less than non-smokers in similar positions, industries and with same age and levels of education due to productive time lost from taking smoke breaks, increased absenteeism and lower rates of raises,” says Dr. Shelton Brown (pictured above), of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, principle researcher for the study.  “Making Texas a smoke-free state, will help ensure that we have a productive workforce that is attractive to companies who are making decisions about where to locate.”

The results of the study were released during a press conference at the state Capitol.  Bipartisan  legislation for a statewide smoking ban has been introduced in both chambers of the legislature by State Senator Rodney Ellis, D-Houston (SB 355), and State Representative Myra Crownover, R-Denton (HB 670), both of whom spoke at the press conference.


27 states have already passed smoking bans covering all enclosed public areas.  And 34 Texas cities have comprehensive smoking bans in place, with others enacting ordinances with varying degrees of restrictions.  A comprehensive statewide ban, in addition to the savings discussed above, would ensure that restaurants and bars in cities with a ban (like Ft. Worth) do not experience a drop in revenue when smokers go to restaurants in adjacent cities (like Addison) that do not have a ban.

At the end of the day, it is an issue of conflict of rights.  But smokers’ rights are more expensive than non-smokers’ rights (i.e. not breathing smoke). Smokers cause $54 million in medical costs on others due to second-hand smoke and almost $20 million in medical costs for low-birthweight babies.

What are your thoughts on the proposed statewide smoking ban?  What is more important, the improved health of the general public, financial savings at the state level, or individual freedom of choice, or some other issue not discussed here?

Written by Kim Wilson, MPIA
Graduate Assistant
Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living