Midtown Gay Bars Make Moves to Become Smoke-Free

You won't have to worry about smelling like smoke after a night in one of Midtown's gay bars or clubs anymore. Most of them are banning smoking inside or have created designated smoking areas.

Heretic, Jungle, My Sister's Room and Mary's in East Atlanta have all gone non-smoking at least part-time. On April 7, Burkhart's announced that it was smoke-free indoors. Atlanta Eagle is considering also becoming smoke-free in May, according to GA Voice. And Mixx and Cockpit have been smoke-free since they opened.

The Health Initiative Executive Director Linda Ellis said a CDC study from three years ago showed that LGBT people smoked twice as much as their straight counterparts, the article included.

Now, the Health Initiative, which serves the LGBT community is partnering with Breathe Easy Fulton County campaign to encourage people to stop smoking by educating them on the health risks as well as convincing businesses to become smoke-free environments.

Ellis said, "I’m shocked and amazed that gay bars are leading the way. I’m proud of them."

The CDC is also focusing on the LGBT community in its efforts to stop smoking. Dr. Tim McAfee, the director of the CDC’s Office on Smoke and Health, said smoking among LGBT people is “a big, big health burden.”

According to GA Voice, for many of the bars with smoking bans or limited smoking areas and times, the overall reaction has been positive. People can now dance without being burned by cigarettes or can go out for drinks without having to put their clothes in the freezer as one man reportedly did often before heading to a gay bar that, until recently, allowed smoking.

See also:

• Manuel's Tavern Promises to Go Smoke-Free
• What Do You Think of a Smoke-Free Mary's Bar?