Buffalo ballpark bans smoking

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Fans can breathe a bit easier Thursday night at Coca-Cola Field. The ballpark Is now completely smoke free.

The Buffalo Bisons planned to celebrate at the game, but the weather forecast was for rain, so the celebration was moved indoors.

The Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition honored individuals and organizations for their accomplishments during the past year, especially the Bisons.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute Chief Executive Officer Doctor Donald Trump pointed out the importance of tobacco control, "If there were one thing I could do as a leader of a cancer institute to impact the control of cancer, it would be to eliminate the use of tobacco."

Dr. Trump received a Bisons cap and shirt, and would have thrown out the first pitch, if the forecast had been correct.

The game was begun in the completely smoke free stadium.

Second-hand smoke may not seem so important outdoors, but there's really much more to it than that.

Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition Director Anthony Billoni said, "Even more importantly, I would say that to not model smoking for youth. They already don't see any smoking indoors anymore. Parents know it's not the right thing to do in their house anymore. So this is a generation that is truly growing up primarily smoke free."

The less places they see smoking accepted, the less likely they'll be to become smokers.

Clifford Neal, who lost his voice to throat cancer, knows that's the right idea, "Don't ever start. Once you start it's very hard to stop."

Having a smoke-free stadium will help.

Dr. Trump said, "I think it's a step in the right direction. It's a powerful statement by the Bisons on the importance that they attach to a smoke-free environment."

News 4's Jacquie Walker asked, "We've heard that thousands of kids try smoking every day. Is there any indication how much something like this can really help?"

Dr. Peter Ostrow said, "It's been five years since smoking was banned in restaurants. We've seen a decrease in illness related to second-hand smoke, and in towns where there was a restaurant smoking ban, kids who tried smoking were 40 percent less likely to go on to become confirmed smokers. If kids see that smoking isn't accepted, they're less likely to do it.

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