Local brewery celebrates being the newest smoke-free bar in Pass Christian

PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (WXXV)- A new local brewery is celebrating a healthier environment as advocates continue pushing for more smoke-free communities across Mississippi.

Nine Toes Brewery in Pass Christian celebrated with an evening full of trivia, happy hour specials, giveaways, cornhole, a golf simulator, and support from the American Cancer Society.

The event was part of a broader effort to expand smoke free indoor air policies across the state.

Organizers say more than 200 Mississippi municipalities have adopted smoke free ordinances, but those communities represent just about 40 percent of the state’s population.  Jenn Grigsby with Smoke Free Mississippi said, “It feels great to be celebrating Nine Toes Brewery in Pass Christian today because they are a brand-new brewery and bar. They opened about two months ago and they came out of the gate smoke free. They are putting their stake in the ground saying that they care about their employees and patrons’ health and don’t want smoking indoors. I want you to know that no level of second-hand smoke it safe, so when you go indoors and you have a smoke free environment you know that you are breathing healthy air.”

Smoke Free Mississippi says it hopes celebrations like this will encourage more businesses and cities to join the movement.