February 2, 2012   The ban on smoking in bars and gaming establishments in Alexandria, Louisiana has made an immediate and dramatic impact on air quality in those venues, according to a study released by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. The Alexandria City Council voted last year to ban smoking in all city bars and gaming establishments effective January 1.  Researchers studied 12 city bars before and after the ban and found that the air was 36 times cleaner and there was a reduction of 97 percent of the particulate matters in the air. Before the ban, air quality levels were nearly double what the Environmental Protection Agency considers “hazardous” levels. After the ban, the air quality in bars fell within the range of “good” air quality and was near the same quality as the “fresh air” located outside the bars. Joe Rosier, CEO of The Rapides Foundation, said that the study is proof that the “efforts to reduce tobacco and its effect on people” in Central Louisiana are working.

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