The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Tobacco Education Program, Early Dawn Cattle Company and KAT Country 103 will be holding a tobacco free bar appreciation night April 18, 2001 from 8-10:30 p.m. at Early Dawn Cattle Company 1000 Kansas Avenue in Modesto. Live music, prize giveaways, and a live remote by KAT Country 103 will be a part of the evening’s activities.

Singer Janice Allen and the Posse will perform at this tobacco-free event from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Allen is a touring country music professional musician who has seen the effects of smoking in bars and nightclubs where she has worked.

Three years ago, the California Assembly adopted AB 13/3037, designating workplaces/bars tobacco free. In Stanislaus County, virtually all indoor workplaces are in compliance with the new laws. However, bars have been slow to comply.

In 1998, of the bars surveyed in Stanislaus County, only 22 percent were in compliance with the smokefree bar law. A follow up survey demonstrates a positive trend regarding compliance with the Statewide Smokefree Workplace law. This trend appears to suggest that the extensive local education and enforcement have had a positive impact on improving compliance with the Law and in contributing to community norm changes. The follow-up survey was conducted in February 2001 and showed the compliance rate was up to 60 percent among bars in Stanislaus County.

Early Dawn Cattle Company, a combination bar and restaurant decided to use the new law to their advantage. They decided to create not only an environment where people could enjoy their food and drinks without tobacco smoke billowing around, but they also decided to create a special outdoor smoking area. Early Dawn invested 20K to create a beautiful patio area for those who wish to smoke at their establishment.

The public number for more information on this tobaccofree celebration

is (209) 558-6053

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent Care Center and multiple programs serving over 400,000 patients and clients each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available at its web site www.hsahealth.org