The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Carboz to host smoke-free club night

Most people who start smoking while in college do so shortly after arriving on campus, according to Alan Ernst, advocacy director for SIUC's Live Free Project.

"Something in their environment is changing," Ernst said. "Students hang out in bars with people who smoke. Then, after being around smokers, they start to smoke."

But Wednesday night, non-smokers will be given a much-needed break as Carboz nightclub hosts Carbondale's first ever Smoke-Free Club Night, featuring free food, giveaways and contests.

Smoke-Free Club Night, which is being sponsored by SIUC's Live Free Project, with a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health, is an effort to provide non-smokers an alternative to smoky bars.

Ernst said the goal of the plan is to reduce and prevent tobacco use among college students.

"We want to provide a fresh alternative for students who don't want to be around smokers," Ernst said.

Secondhand smoke is thought to cause serious health problems for non-smokers, similar to those experienced by smokers. According to the American Lung Association, secondhand smoke causes about 3,000 deaths a year from lung cancer and 35,000 deaths a year from heart disease, in addition to irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and other health problems.

According to the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, 38.3 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 25 smoke.

These statistics are reason enough to have smoke-free bars, says Angie Bailey, director of health education at the Jackson County Health Department.

"Bar employees are exposed to 3.9 to 6.1 times higher levels of smoke than employees of other businesses," Bailey said, citing a 1993 study by the American Medical Association. "The same study said that workers at bars are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to die of smoking-related illnesses than employees of other businesses."

Bailey said a 1998 California law barring smoking in bars and nightclubs prompted the decision to sponsor Smoke-Free Club Night.

"We're trying to do the same thing in a way that shows bars it is a good idea," Bailey said. "We hope to let bar owners and patrons know that they don't have to allow smoking and people will still come."

Brian Callahan, general manager of Carboz, said he supports the aims of Smoke-Free Club Night, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

"I'm glad the SIUC Live Free Project asked me to be a part of their efforts," Callahan said. "Hosting a smoke-free club night is a great way to provide a positive alternative for our patrons."

Callahan also hopes to show new customers what his club has to offer. "We hope to get a lot of people who wouldn't normally come to Carboz," Callahan said.

In addition to clean air, revelers at Carboz Wednesday will be treated to food, contests and other perks.

Hors d'oeuvres will be served from 7 to 8 p.m. along with tastings from Carboz's martini bar, followed by a free buffet from 10 to 11 p.m.

An oxygen bar will be open throughout the night, a first for Carbondale. According to Callahan, breathing oxygen from a tank puts more oxygen in a person's blood stream, giving them increased energy.

A group dance contest will be sponsored, with the top three teams winning prizes ranging from $100 to $300 and at 12:30 a.m. a trip to California will be given away to someone in attendance.

Although no plans have been finalized, Callahan said he hopes this will not be the only Smoke-Free Club Night Carboz hosts.

"I think we'll probably do it a couple of times a year, to give non-smokers a place to go," Callahan said.

Reporter Jesse L. Nelson can be reached at jnelson@dailyegyptian.com