Tobacco Prevention & Control

Smoke-Free

Smoke-Free Dining is Just Good Taste

If you’re like most South Carolinians, you’ll agree smoke-free dining just tastes better. Not only are smoke-free eating establishments healthier for you and your family, but they’re easier on your clothes, hair and skin and allow your taste buds to savor all the delicious flavors you’ve come to expect when you’re enjoying a meal out on the town. When it comes right down to it, 80 percent of diners are nonsmokers and even many smokers prefer not to smoke when they eat.

According to the EPA, a nonsmoking section is not enough. While exhaust systems installed in many restaurants’ nonsmoking sections remove the smoky haze and odor, the systems do nothing to remove the 4,000+ toxic chemicals that have been identified in environmental tobacco smoke. Dining guests who think they’re eliminating their risk by sitting in the nonsmoking section are suddenly realizing that a partition between the two sections isn’t enough.

Restaurants are beginning to listen to their nonsmoking guests who are tired of avoiding particular establishments because of an asthmatic child, new baby or elderly parent with breathing problems. Even adults in perfectly good health can suffer the consequences of spending two hours breathing in secondhand smoke. Low levels of exposure can result in temporary infertility (both in men and women), blood clots, tooth decay, breathing problems and a host of other conditions.

Source: EPA

Looking for a Smoke-Free Restaurant in Your Neighborhood?

Maybe you’ve got young children or problems with asthma. Maybe you’re pregnant and worried about the harmful side effects of secondhand smoke on your unborn child, or maybe you just prefer to enjoy your food in a smoke-free environment. Whatever your reason, you’ve joined the ranks of thousands of other South Carolinians who prefer clean air when they eat.

Next time you plan to have dinner out or are looking for a venue to hold that special occasion, check here to see if the restaurant has a smoke-free policy.

We’re keeping tabs of restaurants all across the state that are listening to their customers and choosing to go smoke-free. Don’t see one of your favorites on the list? Give them a call and ask them what it’d take for them to go smoke-free and earn your business.

Smoke Free Restaurants in Your Hometown

Click on the city nearest you to find smoke-free restaurants in your area. Know of a restaurant that’s smoke-free and not listed here? Add it yourself by calling Mary-Kathryn Craft at (803) 545-4466.

Aiken -The City and County of Aiken are enforcing smoke-free ordinances that include restaurants and bars.
FatzCafe

Aynor
Burger King

Bamberg
Pizza Hut

Barnwell
Pizza Hut

Batesburg
Pizza Hut

Beaufort - The City and County of Beaufort are enforcing smoke-free ordinances that include restaurants and bars.
The Veranda Restaurant at the Beaufort Inn

Bennettsville
Pizza Hut

Bishopville
Hardee’s
Icess Diner
Oriental Quick Stop Restaurant
Pizza Hut
Raley’s Lunch
Secret Garden

Bluffton - Bluffton is enforcing a townwide smoke-free ordinance that includes all restaurants.
Paulie's Pizza

Camden - Camden is enforcing a citywide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
Pizza Hut
KFC

Cayce
Pizza Hut

Central
Pizza Pro

Chapin
The Vineyard Italian Restaurant

Charleston - Charleston is enforcing a citywide smoke-free ordinance that includes all restaurants and bars.
39 Rue de Jean
Andolini's Pizza
Anson Restaurant
Basil
Boathouse on East Bay
Bocci's
Burger King
Cafe Cafe
Carolina's Restaurant
Captain D’s
Chai's Lounge & Tapas
Charleston Crab House
Charleston Grill
Cheng’s Asian Cuisine
Chopsticks House Chinese Restaurant
Circa 1886
COAST Bar & Grill
Cru Cafe'
Doe's Pita Plus
Emperor’s Chicken
East Bay Deli
Fast and French Gaulart & Maliclet
Fig
Fish
Five Loaves Café (Cannon Street and King Street)
Fleet Landing
Fulton Five
Garibaldi Cafe
Grill 225
Groucho's Deli
Hank's Seafood
Hominy Grill
Jack's Cafe
Jestine's Kitchen
Joseph's Restaurant
Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale
Just Fresh Aquarium Wharf
Kentucky Fried Chicken Spring Street
Library at the Vendue Inn
McDonald's Spring Street
Moe's Southwest Grill (King Street)
Nirlep Indian Restaurant
Oak Steakhouse
Old Towne Grill & Seafood
Oriental Cuisine
Palmetto Cafe'
Papa John's Pizza East Bay Street
Papa ZUZU
Peninsula Grill
Pita Pit
Pizza Hut (Rivers Avenue and Goose Creek Boulevard)
Planet Smoothie
Port City Java (King Street, Calhoun Street)
261 Calhoun Street
Quiznos Subs (King Street)
Raval Spanish Wine and Tapas
Robert's Restaurant of Charleston
Rutledge Coffee & Cream
Slightly North of Broad
Starbucks Coffee (King Street, Calhoun Street, East Bay Street)
Subway (King Street)
Sushi HIRO
Sweetwater Cafe
The Wickliffe House
Wholly Cow Ice Creams! and Coffee Beans (100 Aquarium Wharf, Citadel Mall and Coleman Blvd.)
Union Hall
Wing Shop
Daniel Island
Baker's Cafe'
Sienna Restaurant
Folly Beach
Lost Dog Cafe'
Isle of Palms - Isle of Palms is enforcing a smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
Boathouse At Breach Inlet
Sea Biscuit Cafe'
James Island
Andolini's Pizza
Athens Restaurant
Cibo's Bistro & Pizzeria
J'Paulz
Mondo's Delite
The Mustard Seed
Twizt
Mount Pleasant - Mount Pleasant is enforcing a town wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
Andolinis Pizza
Asian Flavor
Atlanta Bread Company
Bamboo Garden
Bessinger's Barbecue
Boulevard Diner
Capriccio Restaurant
Carpentier's Wine Cheese & Deli
Chick-Fil-A
Chili Poblano's
China Dragon
China East Restaurant
Cici's Pizza
Hardee's Restaurant
H & R Sweet Shop
Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
Just Fresh
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Langdon's Restaurant
McDonald's
Melvins BBQ
Moe's Southwest Grill
Mosaic Cafe & Catering
Old Village Post House
Oriental Garden
Pattaya Thai Restaurant
Peking Gourmet Chinese Restaurant
Pizza Hut
Port City Java
Sakyo Japanese Cuisine
Schlotzsky's Deli
Sea Biscuit Cafe
Sette Restaurant
Starbucks Coffee
Subway
That's Amore Pizzeria
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Ye Olde Fashion Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop
Sullivan's Island - Sullivan's Island is enforcing a smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
West Ashley
10-17
Al di La
Amuse Tapas Restaurant and Wine Bar
Andolini's Pizza
Atlanta Bread Company
Bessinger's,
Earthfare
El Dorado Mexican Restaurant
Marie Laveau's
Moe's Southwest Grill
Nathan's Deli
Nirlep
Osaka
Taste of India
West Ashley Bait & Tackle

Cheraw
Pizza Hut
River's Edge Restaurant

Clarendon
Hardee’s
Johnson’s Fish Shop
McDonald’s
Sub Station II
Subway
Wen Lily’s
Zaxby’s

Clemson - Clemson is enforcing a city-wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.

Columbia - Columbia is enforcing a citywide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
AMC Dutch Square Food Court
Atlanta Bread Company
Back Porch
Blue Marlin
Bullets
Burger King
Café Maxx
Café Paradiso
Capital Senior Center
Cat & Cleaver Catering Co.
Chick-Fil-A
CiCi’s Pizza
Classic Gourmet Deli & Bakery
Cock and Bull Pub & Grille
Crossings Deli
Dean’s
Delia’s Caribbean Cuisine
Deno’s Fine Foods
Dunkin’ Donuts
Elaine’s Place
Faye’s Too
Gervais & Vine
Gourmet Shop Café
Happy Cookers
Heavenly Ham
Hooligan’s
Isabelle's on Bower Parkway
Italian Pie
Jersey Mike’s Giant Size Subs
Just Fresh Bakery Café
Lizard’s Thicket
Magnolia House of Lexington
Main Moon
Mangia! Mangia!
McAlister’s Deli
McDonald’s
Miyo’s (Forest Drive)
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Motor Supply Company Bistro
Nice-N-Natural
No Name Deli
The Original Pancake House
Outback Steakhouse, Harbison and Two Notch locations
Pasta Fresca
Paulie’s Pizzeria
Pizza Hut on Broad River Road
Pizza Hut on Two Notch Road
Pizza Hut on St. Andrews Rd.
Pizza Hut on Sumter St.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits
Rising High Natural Bread Co.
Rosewood Market & Deli
Rusty’s All-World BBQ
Souper Spoon
Sticky Fingers in Harbison
Sub Station II
Subway, Sumter Street
Sweet Creations
Tombo Grille
Touch of India
The Upper Crust
Wing Zone

Conway
Burger King
Crady's
Fatz
Pizza Hut
Pizza Inn
Port City Java
Trestle Bakery and Cafe

Dillon
Pizza Hut on Highway 301 North

Easley - Easley is enforcing a city-wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.

Edgefield
Pizza Hut on Augusta Rd

Edisto - Edisto Beach is enforcing a smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.

Florence
301 Drive-In, 669-5141
Arby’s (all locations)
Atlanta Bread Company (all locations)
Aroma Underground, 669-5542
Bazen’s, 629-9818
Benton’s Bistro and Bakery, 665-6879
Bojangles (all locations)
Burger King (all locations)
Chick-Fil-A (all locations)
Cici’s Pizza, 413-0600
Fatz Café, 413-9186
Fazoli’s, 664-3062
Firehouse Subs, 679-9633
Goody’s Chinese Restaurant, 413-9555
Groucho’s Deli (all locations)
Hardees (all locations)
Heavenly Ham, 629-8899
Horne’s Restaurant 665-0311
Jammies @McLeod Health and Fitness Center
Joe Muggs, 679-5376
Kentucky Fried Chicken (all locations)
Krispy Kreme (all locations)
LaBamba Mexican Restaurant, 292-0055
Little Caesar’s Pizza (all locations)
Outback
Peking Chinese Restaurant, 292-0708
Pizza Hut (all locations)
Schlotzsky’s Deli, 673-0777
Shoney’s on West Lucas Street, 679-5935
Shooky’s Deli and Grill, 669-1533
Stephanos Italian Restaurant, 664-9191
Taco Bell (all locations)
The Great American Grill, 432-3001
Thunderbird Country Buffet & Restaurant, 664-0082
Top Hat Special-Teas, 629-8326
Wendy’s (all locations)
Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse, 665-5965
Zaxby’s (all locations)

Fort Mill
Towne Tavern

Georgetown
Burger King
Pizza Hut

Greenville - Greenville is enforcing a citywide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
A Cup & A Crumb
Anita’s Mexican
Atlanta Bread Company
Bangkok
Baskin Robbins
Bertolo’s Pizza
Bistro @ Postcard from Paris
Bucky’s Bar-B-Q
Burger King, Fountain Inn
Café Petite
Café Verdae
Capri’s, Stone Avenue
Capri’s, Woodruff Road
Carson’s Country Kitchen
Charlie’s Steakhouse
Chick-Fil-A (All locations)
Chuck E Cheese
CiCi’s Pizza
Clock Express
Coffee Underground
Como’s Pete’s No. 4
Corporate Deli
Currant Thymes
DQ Grill & Chill
Dockers on Pelham
Dunkin Donuts
English Country Tea Rooms & Restaurant
Espresso Romance
Fazoli’s (All locations)
Frodo’s Pizza
Gerard’s
Harbor Inn Seafood
Harry’s at the West-end
Highway To Health
House of Chan
Jack in the Box
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Joy of Tokyo
Kanpai of Tokyo
Karrie’s Kafe
Korean Garden
Krispy Kreme
Kyoto Express
La Boheme
Lemongrass Thai
Mary’s On Augusta
Mary’s Restaurant
McAlister’s Deli (All locations)
McDonald’s (Seymour organizations)
McDonald’s Downtown
McBee Diner
Moe’s Southwestern Grill
Miyabi Japanese Restaurant
New York Subs
Olympian Restaurant
Pho Noodleville
Pita House
Ristorante Bergamo
Riverside
Sarah’s Kitchen
Schlotsky’s
Senor Wraps
Seven Stars
Sheri’s Café del giorno
Spice Diner
Sprouts
Stax Peppermill
Strossner’s
Thaicoon Restaurant
Tommy’s Ham House
TRIO A Brick Oven Café
VERCITTIS Ristorante Italian
Zaxby’s (All locations)
Pizza Hut Cherrydale

Hilton Head - Hilton Head Island is enforcing a townwide smoke-free ordinance that includes all restaurants and bars.
Alexander's
Captain's Seafood
DiVino Restaurant
Fat Baby's Pizza and Subs
Frankie Bones Restaurant and Lounge
King's Wharf Restaurant
Michael Anthony's Cucina Italiana
Palmetto Star (Dinner Cruise Boat)
Red Fish
Spirit of Harbour Town (Dinner Cruise Boat)
Taste of Thailand
The Old Oyster Factory
The Studio

Lake City
The Midtown Grill
Pizza Hut on North Boulevard

Laurens
Pizza Hut East Main St.

Lee
Hardee’s
Icess Diner
Oriental Quick Stop Restaurant
Pizza Hut
Raley’s Lunch
Subway

Lexington - The Town of Lexington is enforcing a smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
Bellacino’s
Flight Deck
Magnolia House
Pizza Hut
Quizno’s

Liberty - Liberty is enforcing a city-wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants.

Little River
Burger King

Loris
Pizza Hut

Lugoff
KFC

Manning
Brailsford Country Store
China One
Cool Beans Coffee Shop
D&H Barbeque
Hardee’s
Jack’s Creek Marina
Johnson’s Fish Shop
Lakeside Market
McDonald’s on Sunset Drive
Mike’s Grill & Deli
Pizza Hut on Sunset Boulevard
Sub Station II
Subway
Won Lily’s
Zaxby’s

Murrells Inlet
Captain Dave's Dockside Restaurant
Lee's Inlet Kitchen

Myrtle Beach - Mount Pleasant is enforcing a townwide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
Atlanta Bread Company (2 locations)
Boulavsky's Grill
Burger King
City Bar
Golden Corral
Pizza Hut on North Kings Highway
Pizza Hut on Renee Drive
Sea Captain's House

Newberry
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Taco Bell

North Augusta - North Augusta is enforcing a city-wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.

North Myrtle Beach
Burger King
California Dreaming
Pizza Hut
SeaBlue Tapas Restaurant

Oconee County
Fairplay
Dutch Maid Bakery
Long Creek
Humble Pie Pizza
Salem
Cannone’s Pizza
Subway
Seneca
Annie’s
Arby’s
Atami Express
Athens
Bantam Chef
Captain D’s
Chick-Fil-A
China Inn
Circa 1930
Domino’s Pizza
Friend’s Café
Grand Buffet
Great Wall Chinese
Hardee’s
International Deli
Jack-In-The-Box
KFC
Little Caesar’s
Lucky Strike
McDonald’s
Pizza Buffet
Paesano’s
Pigasso’s
Pizza Hut
Pop’s Country Store
Rudy’s on Ram Cat
Schlotzsky’s Deli
Seneca Family Restaurant
Subway
Taco Bell
Thrasher’s Skin Hotdogs
Time Drive-In
Wendy’s
Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe
Yoshi Express
Zaxby’s
Walhalla
Arby’s
Burger King
Dakota Grill
Domino’s Pizza
Hardee’s
Main St. Pizza
Subway
Sweet Treats
The Steakhouse Cafeteria
Varsity Sandwich Shoppe
Willow Room Dining
Westminster
Domino’s Pizza
Fox’s Den
Lucky Strike
Hardee’s
Moore & Moore Fish Camp
Subway
West Union
Dairy Queen
McDonald’s
Mountain View Steak & Seafood
New China Restaurant

Orangeburg
Pizza Hut

Pageland
KFC
Pizza Hut

Pawleys Island
Captain John's Seafood Grill
Giannottis Restorante

Richland County - Richland County is enforcing a smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Rock Hill - Rock Hill is enforcing a city-wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars (May 1, 2009).

Saluda
Pizza Hut

Santee
Pizza Hut

Spartanburg
The Hound and the Hare
Sumter
Arby’s on Broad Street
A Shot of Sugar
Baskin Robbins on Broad Street
Best of Seasons
Blimpie on Alice Drive
Burger King on Broad Street
Burger King on Calhoun Street
Brick Street Coffee Break
Buster’s Bakery & Grill
Carrie’s Place
Cathy’s on Broad
Chicken Shack
Chick-Fil-A
China Chef
China Wing
China Wok
Church’s Fried Chicken on Liberty Street
CiCi’s Pizza
Country Fixins Barbeque
County Fair Restaurant
Dairy Queen
Domino’s on Hwy 441
Fairfield Inn
First Corner Coffee
Great Wall
Hong Kong
Hardee’s in Palmetto Plaza
Heavenly Ham
Intimidators Indoor Fun Park
Jersey Mike’s Subs
KFC (all locations)
K-Mart K-Café
Lee Jay’s Sandwich Shop
Mary Ann’s Deli
McDonald’s (all locations)
Murray’s Donuts
Papa John’s Pizza
Pizza Hut on Hwy 441
Roly Poly
The Shrimper
Soft Rock Café
Sub Station II
Subway (all locations)
Taco Bell
TCBY Yogurt
Teriyaki Wok
Thai House Buffet
Tony’s Pizza
Uptown Deli
USC Food Court
Wendy’s
Wing’s Express
Zaxby’s

St. George
Pizza Hut on West Jim Bilton Blvd.

Sumter
A Shot of Sugar
Arby’s
Baskins Robbins
Best of Seasons
Blimplie
Burger King
Brick Street Coffee Break
Buster’s Bakery and Grill
Chick-Fil-A
Chicken Shack
Con’t China Wing
Church’s Fried Chicken
Great Wall
Hardee’s Sumter
Heavenly Ham of Sumter
Intimidators Indoor Fun Park
Jersey Mije’s Subs
Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant
Jus Chops
KFC
Mary Ann’s
Outback
Papa John’s Pizza
Pizza Hut
Pizza Lane
Quiznos
Sambino’s
The Shrimper
Sub Station II
Subway
Taco Bell
TCBY Yogurt
Teriyaki Wok
Tony’s Pizza
USC Food Court
Wendy’s
Wings Express
Zaxby’s

Surfside - Surfside Beach is enforcing a townwide smoke-free ordinance that includes all restaurants and bars.
California Dreaming
California Pizza
Crabby Mike's Seafood Company
Nibbles
Pizza Hut on North Kings Highway

Walterboro - Walterboro is enforcing a city-wide smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.

West Columbia
Al's Upstairs
House Coffee
Pizza Hut on Sunset Boulevard

Winnsboro
Pizza Hut on South 321 Bypass

York - York County is enforcing a smoke-free ordinance that includes restaurants and bars.
Arby’s
A Slice of Italy Pizza
Baskin Robbins
Bellacino’s
Bi-Lo Deli
BoJangles
Bryant’s Ice Cream Parlor
Buck’s Pizza
Bucko’s
Burge King
Carlos Café
Chick-Fli-A
CiCi’s Pizza
Clifford’s Café
Cold Stone Creamery
Courtney’s Bar-B-Q
Demarco’s
Dewitt’s Butcher Shop Deli
Dilworth Coffeehouse
Dominos Pizza
Durango Bagel
Ebenezer Grill
Essie’s Catering
Fort Mill Ford Sonic Café
Fort Mill Golf Club
Hardee’s
Herlong BP
Hickory Dickory Dock
Hillcrest Grocery
Honey Baked Ham
J & S Cafeteria
Jack In The Box
Jackson’s Cafeteria
Jackson’s Kitchen
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Jersey Shores Subs & Wraps
Jing Jing
Jumpin Java
KFC/A&W
Kristy’s Kountry Korner
Lake Wylie Grill
Las Americas
Lee’s Fames Recipe
Little Caesars Pizza
Little Caesrs Pizza/Kmart
Long John Silver’s
Market on Herlong
McAlister’s Deli
McDonalds
Moe’s Southwest Grill
North’s Grocery & Grill
Panera Bread
Paramont’s Carowinds
Pat-A-Cakes
Penn Station
Petro Express
Quick Quick Stop
Quizno’s Sub
Quzo’s Pizza
Red Rocket Deli
Rock Hill Country Club
Rock Hill Roasting Company
Rock Hill Senior Citizen’s Center
Roller Magic
Rolly Polly
Shop and Go Food Mart
Showmars
Slow Smokin
Sonny’s Place Grill
Southern Covenience
Spring Lake Country Club
Sub Station II
Subway Sandwiches
Taco Bell
Target Deli
TC’s Treasures
TCBY Treats
Tega Cay Golf Club
The Eagles Nest
The Cheung’s
The Rose Garden Café
Wendy’s
Wing Wah
York Senior Citizens Center
Zaxby’s

Smoking Myths versus Clean Air Truths

Think your restaurant is alone in experiencing reservations about going smoke-free? Many restaurant owners and managers grapple with the decision to go 100% smoke-free and are often stunned when they learn that they won’t actually lose business by adopting a smoke-free policy. Often we receive tough questions from concerned restaurant owners and managers just like you who are struggling with this important decision. Here are some of their concerns and the no-nonsense answers that helped them realize there really is no downside to clearing out the smoke.

If our restaurant goes smoke-free, we'll lose business.

image of calculator On the contrary, time and time again research has shown that adopting smoke-free policies doesn’t have a negative effect on restaurant sales. Almost 74 percent of South Carolinians are nonsmokers and an increasing number say that they prefer dining in restaurants that are smoke-free. In fact, going smoke-free can encourage nonsmokers to dine out more. The rule of thumb is that for every one smoker you lose, you'll gain a table of two nonsmokers. As if that weren't enough, restaurants that go smoke-free notice a significant increase in the turnover of their tables, since customers are less likely to linger with cigarettes after their meals. More turnover means your restaurant serves more meals. More meals mean more money.

Our restaurant has a nonsmoking section. That will eliminate health risks, right?

Even when your smoking and nonsmoking sections are separated by a solid partition, secondhand smoke is still a serious risk to customers. With over 4,000 toxic chemicals in cigarettes, there is no safe level of exposure. Each year, 53,000 American nonsmokers die from secondhand smoke. Having a nonsmoking section in a smoking restaurant is like having a non-peeing section in a swimming pool.

Our smoking section is ventilated. Isn't that all the protection nonsmokers need?

Ventilation systems are designed to remove the odor of smoke rather than the dangerous disease-causing chemicals and gases in the air. Just because the nonsmoking section isn't hazy with smoke doesn't mean customers aren't at risk, especially small children, the elderly and people with breathing conditions like asthma. For restaurants that don't already have them installed or need to upgrade them, ventilation systems can also be a costly endeavor.

I've heard it's expensive to implement a nonsmoking policy.

One of the best parts about going smoke-free? It costs nothing! Explaining your new policy to your regular customers doesn't require anything except demonstrating your personal commitment to them with your time. Visit their table and spend a few minutes explaining some of the health risks your restaurant is trying to avoid. Over two thirds of South Carolina's smokers want to quit and most can easily refrain from smoking for an hour or two without a problem. Your local tobacco coalition can provide you with attractive signs to explain your new policy, free of charge. Other signs can be printed on your own computer and posted in prominent places.

If my restaurant goes smoke-free, we'll lose our regulars.

Smoke-free restaurants report that even their most dedicated smokers return after a short period of time. And the smokers you'll occasionally lose as customers will be more than made up for with nonsmoking customers who've heard about your new policy and are eager to eat in a smoke-free environment. Plus, many restaurants admit that the wait for a nonsmoking table is consistently longer than for a table in the smoking section. Eliminating the smoking section will mean everyone is seated sooner and your restaurant will remain at peak capacity during your busy hours, regardless of whether you lose one or two smoking regulars.

The health of our staff isn't my problem. They make a choice to come work here. I can't be held financially accountable for their welfare.

Restaurant employees are the occupational group most heavily exposed to secondhand smoke. South Carolina's waiters and waitresses, hostesses and chefs are 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than people in other professions. So you're thinking that if the risks bother them, they should look for another job? The courts don't think so. If you knowingly allow your employees to work in a dangerous environment (and everyone knows secondhand smoke is dangerous), you could be held financially responsible for any future health problems they may develop as a result of secondhand smoke. They say the restaurant business is one of the toughest markets out there… see how tough it is after you've had to settle a lawsuit brought against you by a 27-year-old waiter with lung cancer.

Okay, I understand how a restaurant could go smoke-free. But my restaurant also has a great bar. There's no way a bar can be smoke-free.

Look, smokers are in the minority whether they're in a restaurant or a bar. Seventy-four percent of South Carolinians don't smoke and the same figure applies to bar-goers. You're thinking, no way. Every time you look around your bar, it looks like everyone is lighting up. Consider this - bars are one of the smokiest environments out there and when nonsmokers are asked why they don't visit bars more often, smoke is the number one answer they give. Bars are often so polluted with smoke that nonsmokers steer clear of them altogether. In fact, many nonsmokers say they'd go out to bars more if they were smoke-free.

So, maybe going smoke-free won't cost me anything. On the other hand, it won't save me money either.

Going smoke-free is like opening up a savings account for your restaurant and watching the money pour in. Not only are you likely to experience a boost in nonsmoker sales, but you're also going to start seeing visible benefits almost immediately. You'll replace less often tablecloths, napkins, carpets and other furniture that were previously subject to burn holes and layers of cigarette smoke. Paint and window coverings will become dingy less often and you'll eliminate the need to frequently repaint the interior of your restaurant. You'll never purchase another ashtray again and you can cut the cost of printing matchbooks for customers in need of a light. Like we said, you'll reduce the risks of lawsuits, which let's face it - are big money. And here's the best part… call your insurance company because many agencies look more favorably on restaurants with smoke-free policies. When it comes to health insurance, providers know that smokers wind up costing them more in the long run. Those costs are passed on to you - according to studies, you spend up to $5,000 in additional costs every year for each smoker you employ by the time you take into account increased premiums and lost work. Hazard insurance costs more too. From 1993 to 1997, smoking related restaurant fires caused $7.2 million in property damage, not to mention six injuries and one death, so they're smart to cut you a break when you go smoke-free.

I'm not willing to go out on a limb. No other South Carolina restaurants are going smoke-free.

You think your restaurant is alone in South Carolina? That none of your competitors are considering similar smoke-free policies? You couldn't be further from the truth. As of August 2004, hundreds of restaurants in South Carolina have gone smoke-free. Going smoke-free isn't personal - it's just smart business.

Going Smoke Free: A Restaurant’s Check List for Success

Remember that you stand to gain more if you announce your policy change with pride. So, brag about it!
Decide on a date that your policy will go into effect. Think about picking a day that will be significant to people and also to media. Maybe the Great American Smoke-Out on the third Thursday in November, Kick Butts day in late March or early April, World No Tobacco Day on May 31 or a significant national holiday like Memorial Day or Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that on a day like the Great American Smoke-Out, media outlets will be looking for stop-smoking stories. What could be better than having your restaurant featured on the 11 o'clock news?
Focus on your local media. Give a personal call to local restaurant reviewers to let them know about your smoke-free policy. They may be so impressed they decide to come review your food to celebrate the occasion.
Consider writing a letter to your local paper's editor, explaining why your restaurant chose to go smoke-free. Your local tobacco coalition can help you gather any statistics you might need to bring your point home.
Consider surveying your customers so they feel that they've played an active role in your decision. They'll be proud that they've worked to improve their community and are likely to remain faithful to your restaurant no matter what the outcome.
Post attractive and positive signs announcing your smoke-free policy at the door, in restrooms and even possibly on table tents. Remember that promoting "a smoke-free environment" is a more appealing message than a simple sign that says, "no smoking." Call your local tobacco coalition for free signs.
Talk to your staff about your decision to go smoke-free. Schedule a staff meeting where waiters and waitresses can learn tactics that will help them answer questions customers may pose about the new policy. Offer your staff the opportunity to role-play, switching between being the wait staff and the customer. This will help them anticipate possible questions that may stump them.
Emphasize to both your staff and your customers that the health of your staff is incredibly important to you. While smokers may take up an "us against them" attitude toward nonsmokers, they'll have a hard time downplaying the health of the waiter taking their order.
If customers do have specific questions about your policy change, be sure your wait staff informs a manager who can devote more personal attention to answering their questions thoroughly.
Don't forget to remove all ashtrays from your restaurant. Go ahead and toss them to keep you or anyone else from feeling like the policy is only temporary.
If your restaurant has a cigarette vending machine, have it removed. It shouldn't cost you a dime - just call them vendor and tell them you no longer need their services.
Use this opportunity to encourage any staff members who smoke to quit. Consider inviting a smoking cessation expert from a non-profit organization like the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or the American Lung Association to address your employees at a staff meeting. Explain that the new policy benefits them in addition to your customers and that their health risks begin to drop significantly, even just days after their last cigarette. Post South Carolina’s Quit for Keeps phone number somewhere you know your staff will frequently see it. Encourage them to use it if they need someone to help them through the process. Remember, it’s 1-877-44U-QUIT. Establish an entrance policy for staff members who can't break the habit, such as requiring that staff on breaks cannot smoke within 50 feet of all the building's entrances. Remind them that the smoke-free policy is in effect 24 hours a day - not just when the restaurant is open to customers.
Be patient. Change doesn't happen overnight. Sales-tax data repeatedly indicates that smoke-free policies do not hurt restaurant business. However, it will be difficult to watch that occasionally irate smoker walk out the door, presumably to a competing restaurant with no smoke-free policy in place. Keep in mind that with any insistent smoker who goes elsewhere, your competitors' restaurants are becoming more and more smoke-filled, which in turn is alienating more and more nonsmokers and sending them straight to smoke-free facilities like yours.

How to Help Your Favorite Restaurant Go Smoke Free

The following documents will help you help your favorite restaurants. Just print out the documents and either use them as they are or adjust them to fit your specific needs. Don’t forget to let us know about your success stories!

For a Smoke Free Dining is Just Good Taste Toolkit, please contact the SC Tobacco Collaborative at sctobaccocollaborative@yahoo.com.

Let em’ Work, Let em’ Breathe

Ever consider the fact that though you may enjoy lighting up in public places, you’re putting workers around you at risk? Employees in the service industry are asking to be allowed to put in a decent day’s work, not breathe in a day’s secondhand smoke. The smoke a nonsmoker is exposed to while working an eight-hour shift in a smoking restaurant is equivalent to smoking ten cigarettes. That’s ten cigarettes a day, at least five days a week, every week of their working career in some cases.

Many smokers argue that if workers don’t want to breathe in secondhand smoke, they should just find another job. We all know it’s not that simple.

In today’s economy, jobs are a valuable commodity. If you have one, you hang onto it. For anyone who’s ever been out of work, giving up a decent paying job because of exposure to secondhand smoke just isn’t a realistic option. Whether workers are college students trying to pay their way through school or single mothers supporting a few kids, no one can afford to go without a job. In a perfect world, everyone would be able to find a smoke-free job. We all know that the world isn’t perfect though, and in the end, employees will be forced to work where the jobs are.

If you’re an employer, you’ve got to recognize that you owe your employees a healthy work place. Your employees are your biggest asset and protecting them should be your biggest priority. Watching an employee become sick because of exposure to secondhand smoke won’t just bring you mountains of litigation fees – it’ll also bring you a lot of sleepless nights.

Smoke Free Homes & Vehicles

So, despite your best intentions you haven’t been able to quit smoking since you had your children. Parenthood comes with lots of responsibilities and one of them is always putting the health and safety of your kids first. If you must smoke, take it outside.

Two of the worst places you can smoke in front of your child is in your home and automobile. Both are enclosed spaces that put your child in a much closer vicinity to your secondhand smoke.

Thirty-eight percent of children aged 2 months to 5 years are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home
In South Carolina, 240,000 kids breathe in secondhand smoke at home

Source: CDC, BRFSS 1996

It’s a cold December morning and there’s frost on your windshield. You strap your toddler in his car seat and scrape the ice off the windshield. By the time you get in, you’re freezing and dying for a cigarette. You roll the window down a half an inch, figuring that should allow most of the smoke to disseminate into the air as you drive to the daycare.

Or maybe you come home from work exhausted from a long day and you want a smoke. You may even open some of the windows, but the same smoke that has turned your furniture, walls and drapes and dingy shade of gray is working its way into your small child’s lungs. The first signs of it might be ear infections or bronchial infections but pretty soon your daughter’s developed asthma.

Children of smokers are more likely to suffer from upper respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia each year
Children of smokers have more ear infections, hearing problems and asthma than children of nonsmokers
Children of smokers are more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Source: Pediatrics

By the age of five, the children of smokers have inhaled the equivalent of 102 packs of cigarettes. You wouldn’t let them light up their own, right? So, why should they smoke yours?

Infants whose mothers smoke are almost four times as likely to be hospitalized
Children who live in households where three or more packs of cigarettes are smoked per day are more than four times as likely to need ear tubes placed to prevent frequent ear infections
Infants with two parents who smoke are more than twice as likely to have had pneumonia or bronchitis

Source: AAP
Maricopa County Department of Public Health

If you decide to smoke, always smoke out of doors away from the entrances of your home and never in your automobile, especially when you’re carrying passengers.

Take the Smoke Free Home and Auto Pledge!

Click here to download a smoke-free pledge card and certificate for making your home and vehicle smoke-free!

You can also take the pledge by calling 1-866-SMOKEFREE.

First Breaths

In the fall of 2004, DHEC is collaborating with the South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative to bring Newberry Hospital a pilot program called First Breaths. First Breaths, which encourages new mothers to make all of their child’s breaths as important as its first, provides families with take-home information on the dangers of smoking around their infants.

Funded in part by the March of Dimes, First Breaths will give parents information on two of the most vital places they can keep smoke-free – their home and their vehicle. Newberry Hospital will be able to offer each new mother a gift that includes tips on how to make homes and automobiles smoke-free and will serve as a model for hospitals throughout the rest of South Carolina.

Smoke Free Colleges & Universities

image of college student If you’ve got kids in high school, you’re probably in the midst of helping your son or daughter make some very important decisions about their future, in particular where they’d like to attend college. Deciding on a college can be a complicated process as you and your teenager find ways to compromise on the things you both think are important.

You want campus security. Your teenager wants Greek life. You want a strong engineering department. Your teenager wants a convenient parking spot. The list goes on and on. One thing you shouldn’t have to compromise on, however, is smoke-free living for your teen.

Check to make sure the residence hall he or she chooses is smoke-free.
Talk to the housing office and ask about smoke-free floors if smoke-free dorms are not available.
Read over the housing contract carefully and make sure your child won’t be assigned a roommate who is a smoker.
Look for colleges that have comprehensive smoke-free policies that should include not only residence halls, but all public places on the school’s campus.

Sending your teens off to college and watching them assert their independence for the very first time will give you plenty of reasons to worry over the next four years. Worrying about what they’re breathing shouldn’t have to be something that keeps you up at night.

Smoke Free Colleges & Universities Model Policy

Model Your College or University After a Model Policy (pdf)

Smoke Free Colleges & Universities in South Carolina

Congratulations to the following South Carolina colleges and universities that have strong smoke-free policies!

Other Smoke Free Places

Smoke Free Healthcare Facilities Model Policy (pdf)

Guide for Creating 100 Percent Tobacco-Free Schools in South Carolina (pdf)

Success Stories

S.C. hospitals have realized the importance of adopting and enforcing 100 percent tobacco-free policies for their buildings AND grounds to help ensure protection from secondhand smoke exposure and relay a positive health message.

Click here for success story Up in Smoke: Tobacco-Free Policies Eliminate Smoking on Hospital Grounds (pdf)

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control