Beginning Saturday, smokers will no longer be allowed to smoke in line while waiting to purchase their movie tickets – or anywhere within 25 feet of the theater entrance.

The smoke-free policy was created by the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency’s Tobacco Education Program in conjunction with the Brenden Theater to help reduce the risk of exposing the public to second-hand smoke at theater entrances. The new policy will coincide with the opening of the newest Austin Powers movie, “Goldmember.”

“It’s the first policy of its kind for a movie theater in the state of California,” said county project director Mark Loeser. “We hope it’s a positive thing.”

He noted that about 1.5 million tickets are sold for movies at the Brenden Theater each year.

“So this new policy impacts a lot of people,” he said.

To promote the new policy, there will be a special kickoff event at the theater on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Radio station B93.1 began the promotion on Sunday by giving away 200 free movie tickets to “Goldmember”, and will hand out an additional 50 more tickets on site during its live remote broadcast on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Staff from the county Tobacco Education Program will also provide educational information and prize giveaways.

According to a survey conducted in April 2001 by the California Department of Health Services, 60 percent of Californians polled say they prefer smoke-free building entrances.

Loeser says the county agency will continue to work with the Brenden Theater in the next two years to provide general tobacco education to the public.

In addition to showing slides to remind the public of the theater’s smoke-free policy, the agency will also have access to the theater once a month to provide educational and intervention materials on tobacco.

“We’re pleased to see the theater is taking the lead in the community like the Stanislaus County Fair Board who two years ago designated the seated areas of the arena and grandstands at the fairgrounds outdoors smoke-free,” said Loeser.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is an outpatient medical system with nine medical offices located throughout the county.

It also operates the Public Health Department, and Urgent Care Center and various programs serving over 50,000 people in Stanislaus County.

Reprinted by permission of the Turlock Journal.