Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

My husband and I attended the Lowcountry Karaoke Idol Finals competition on Sunday, August 26, 2012, held at Two Keys Tavern, definitely a smoking bar.

When we arrived, we had to pay a $5.00 cover charge. I do not know if that is a policy of Two Keys, but it was a bit of a surprise. Since the bar is a smoking bar, I could not wait to get home to shower and get the disgusting smell of cigarette smoke off of me! My husband smoked for years, and I knew that when I married him. I am proud to say that in 1998 he gave up cigarettes — not because he wanted to, but when a zipper was added to his chest, he recognized that smoking is really bad for your health — especially for a heart patient.

When he smoked he never imagined the smell, simply because he loved to suck on a cigarette. I refer to them as adult pacifiers! Think of it! A smoker is addicted to the cigarette…they have to have that cigarette to calm them down, to nourish a truly bad habit! Now, he cannot stand the smell. We tolerated the scent for as long as we could, anxious to find out who would be the six finalists of the competition, but at 10:00, we chose to leave. The cloud of smoke was getting just a bit too thick for my taste.

Back to the competition. I must say, there are many talented singers within the Charleston, SC community. I wish the winner the best and hope she will continue singing. As for me, I am not certain if I will compete again. Singing is my passion and I am hopeful that South Carolina will awaken and recognize we need to become a non-smoking state, with smoking permitted in designated areas only, so those of us who do not smoke will not inhale the scent of second-hand smoke in our lungs, clothing and bodies. It is a fact that second-hand smoke is dangerous — just visit the website, http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke

and read all about it:

“Secondhand smoke (SHS) is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). SHS is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco:

• Sidestream smoke – the smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar

and

• Mainstream smoke – the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker

Even though we think of these as the same, they aren’t. The sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) than the mainstream smoke. And, it contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body’s cells more easily.

When non-smokers are exposed to SHS it is called involuntary smoking or passive smoking.Non-smokers who breathe in SHS take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. The more SHS you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body.”

The morning after the competition, even though I showered, washed my hair and clothing, I still smelled smoke in my lungs and I tasted it.

Let us hope that if there is another competition, the finals will be held at a local non-smoking bar in Charleston! After all, it is the Twenty-first Century!