Four local teens are pushing for a ban on smoking at Old Orchard Beach. The group ”“ Hattie Simon, Sabryna Deshaies, MaryKate Slattery and Sarah Jenkins ”“ recently proposed an ordinance to the Old Orchard Beach council citing the dangers of second-hand smoke.

The teens attended the annual Maine Youth Anti-Tobacco Summit in 2009 and received a grant to continue their work.

Under the proposed ordinance, smoking would be banned on the beach and within 25 feet of the beach. Violators would be fined between $50 and $250. The girls, who will be high school sophomores in the fall, surveyed 400 people over four days during the peak of the tourist season. Of those surveyed, 88 percent said they would support an ordinance that would ban smoking on the beach.

Councilors should give this proposal some serious thought. Despite concerns about people who would avoid the beach, the council is not considering those who may already avoid Old Orchard Beach because smoking is allowed.

Maine’s state parks and historic sites are smoke-free by law ”“ including state beaches. Visitors are prohibited from smoking on or within 20 feet of beaches, playgrounds, snack bars, group picnic shelters and public places and restrooms in state parks and historic sites.

The state’s parks and historic sites see about two million visitors annually, despite the smoking ban.

Maine currently has a smoking ban for public places ”“ including restaurants, stores, night clubs and bars, theaters and any place that is “open to the public.” In spite of initial outcry, Maine’s businesses function just fine ”“ as do the businesses in the two dozen other states where smoking in public places in not allowed.

These laws protect consumers and patrons as well as employees of those establishments. Where smoking remains is in outdoor public areas that are not state parks or historic sites ”“ places like Old Orchard Beach.

Smoking is dangerous. There are clear links between inhaling smoke and particular cancers, not to mention emphysema and other chronic conditions. Second-hand smoke is also especially harmful to children, people with asthma or cystic fibrosis and anyone who is subject to it on a regular basis.

When people are out in public places, they cannot choose whether or not to breathe in smoke as they are able in their homes or cars. Some may say, if you don’t like it, don’t go to the beach. But that is not fair to the majority of Americans who don’t smoke  ”“ and it is a large majority, at about 80 percent of adults in the U.S. 

People who bring their children to the beach should also not have to subject their little ones to others’ cigarette smoking. Having one or several designated areas outside of the beach where people could smoke would allow them to do so ”“ and dispose of their cigarettes butts in proper receptacles ”“ while preserving the air and the entire experience for those who wish to have a smoke-free life.

As the council moves forward, we hope they listen to the young people in the area who are taking the first step toward making Old Orchard Beach completely smoke-free. We hope they will also keep in mind that second-hand smoke is dangerous and may already be a deterrent to people trying to pick one of Maine’s beaches to visit.

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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.