Letter to Rep Schupp and Bivins

Dear Representatives Schupp and Bivins,

Someone gave you a bad piece of information for your guest column in the St. Joe News. The claim that working eight hours in a bar that allows smoking equals smoking 16 cigarettes yourself has no research to back it up. The claim implies a level of risk many, many times greater than the risk asserted in Surgeon General Carmona's 2006 report.The American Cancer Society has pushed this 16 cigarette claim for years until recently challenged to provide supporting research. Honestly, if the claim were true I would support smoking bans myself, unless a bar was willing to put a skull and crossbones over its front door.

Here are links to commentary concerning the American Cancer Society's 16 Cigarette Claim:

http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2007/12/on-dangers-of-cigarette-equivalents.html
http://keepstlouisfree.blogspot.com/2007/12/american-cancer-society-16-cigarette.html

Sincerely,

Bill Hannegan