The Cons of Smoking Bans in Restaurants
Nonsmokers may see a restaurant smoking ban as a positive step that protects the rights of people who want to eat out without suffering the smell and health hazards of secondhand smoke. Yet many people, nonsmokers among them, object to these bans. In many localities the local government has become involved in deciding whether to issue a smoking ban in area restaurants.
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Loss of Business
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Restaurants fear that a restaurant smoking ban may result in loss of business. Diners look forward to the opportunity to fully relax when they go out to eat and that includes, for smokers, a chance to smoke. Restaurants worry that diners who can't smoke won't patronize the restaurant. If the local government effects a partial ban, limiting smoking in certain sectors of the restaurant trade but not in others (for instance, in sit-down restaurants but not in bars or lounges), patrons who want to smoke may choose to patronize the locations where they can smoke. This will place an unfair economic strain on the restaurants that must operate under the ban.
Questionable Legality of a Ban
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Since people may legally smoke tobacco, the authorities do not have a legal right to limit the activity. Individuals who do not want to eat in a restaurant that allows smoking should take the responsibility on themselves to find a nonsmoking restaurant. Even without a smoking ban, many restaurants would limit or ban smoking, giving nonsmokers plenty of options to choose from if they wish to eat in a nonsmoking restaurant.
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Government Interference
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The government should not take it upon itself to protect people from their own decisions and actions. Adults don't need government interference in their private lives. If an individual chooses to smoke and she can find a restaurant that will accommodate her, the authorities should not interfere. If a community doesn't have nonsmoking restaurants or other eateries, it simply reflects the needs and desires of the community members, choices that the local government should respect.
Compliance
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Monitoring the law puts a strain on local law enforcement officials, public health officials and the staff and patrons of restaurants. The ban may strain the resources of the municipal or other governmental bodies who bear responsibility for enforcement. Adding staff to monitor and enforce the ban will involve expenses that many public agencies and departments cannot underwrite and the public should not fund.
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References
- Photo Credit restaurant image by Francis Lempérière from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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'Smokers Rights' -- what a crock! Suicide is against the law and smoking is a slow, painful expensive suicide.
