Gaining support for smoke-free air policies at veterans clubs – 3/16/12

Q: Indiana is seeking any sample toolkits, plans, fact sheets, and any other resources that could potentially aid us in our effort to implement smoke-free air policies at veterans clubs.  We are looking for:

• Guides / tips for working with military/veterans populations on smoke-free air policies
• Data, reports, or anything else that demonstrates the positives of smoke-free veterans clubs, such as:
  • Smoke-free policies do not harm veterans clubs or actually improve membership
  • Younger veteran population prefers smoke-free environments in veterans clubs
• Guides / tips for smoke-free implementation and enforcement in private clubs (including opposition tactics, etc.)

A:

1. Alabama: Alabama does not have any specific tool kit/materials developed for use with Veterans' Clubs.
    
2. Ohio: In Ohio the bar owners fought any exemption for private or veterans’ clubs on the basis of a level playing field. I.e., if bars had to be smoke-free, it would give veterans’ clubs an unfair advantage to allow them to permit smoking.
    
3. Washington: The military clubs issue has been thorny here in the Pac Northwest. Attached is the final disposition of the legal challenge from American Legion. Kitsap County is home to Kitsap Naval Base.

Editor’s Note: For anyone interested in addressing tobacco use in military communities or creating military-civilian partnerships, many resources for starting to work with military service members and veterans are available through the DOD’s campaign, ucanquit2.org and California’s Project UNIFORM. Click here to learn more about tobacco-related disparities among military service members and veterans as well as successful efforts to engage the military community in California.

Back to Table of Contents