Time for Indiana to ban smoking is long overdue

The American Lung Association in Indiana released its 10th annual State of Tobacco Control report. The report card format grades states on key tobacco control policies and Indiana's effectiveness at adequately protecting citizens from the enormous burden caused by tobacco use.

It's no surprise that Indiana received an "F" for its smoke-free air law — or lack thereof. The bright side, however, is that House Bill 1149 presents the opportunity to turn our failing grade into a passing one.

While the bill currently on the table wouldn't protect all workers from secondhand smoke, it would dramatically reduce Hoosiers' exposure in restaurants, bars and public buildings.

Smoking cost the state nearly $5 billion last year in lost productivity and health care expenditures and took the lives of more than 9,500 Hoosiers. The time is long overdue for Indiana to go smoke-free.

— Lindsay Grace, advocacy manager for the American Lung Association in Indiana, Indianapolis