State fair goes smoke-free

To the editor:

Have you heard the news? The Alaska State Fair is going smoke-free! The new policy, which was recently approved by the fair’s board of directors, “came out of concern for the fairgoer experience,” according to a statement by fair general manager Ray Ritari, posted Feb. 22 on the Alaska State Fair website.

Please join Breathe Free Mat-Su in applauding this new policy. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of preventable death. Nationwide, it accounts for an estimated 50,000 deaths annually. In Alaska, as many as 120 people die from secondhand-smoke-related causes each year. That’s more than the number of people killed each year in motor vehicle accidents and about three times the number of deaths caused by homicide.

The Alaska State Fair’s new policy will help ensure a healthy environment for fairgoers and sends a message that secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard. Breathe Free Mat-Su encourages other businesses and organizations, including restaurants and bars, to go smoke-free as well. Judging by the responses posted on the Alaska State Fair’s Facebook page, your customers will thank you.

Becky Stoppa, facilitator

Breathe Free Mat-Su