Public support growing for state smoking ban

Publication Date: 2017-04-05

• Author:Ronnie Ellis, CNHI News Service
• Publication:The Independent

Even in a state with a long history of tobacco culture and a high percentage of smokers, public support for a statewide smoking ban is growing.

A poll of 1,580 Kentucky adults by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky found 71 percent of respondents favor the idea, up from 66 percent in the same poll last year and up 17 points since 2011. Opposition dropped from 31 percent to 25 percent in the past year.

"In a state with a tobacco culture like Kentucky's always had, it's fairly remarkable that we've bumped up over the 70 percent mark," said Ben Chandler, president of the foundation.