Yep, the intellectually pure position of allowing smoking based on property rights has lost, it won't be long before some hillary clinton or mike huckabee pushes through a ban at the federal level. If I was in the hospitality industry I would be pushing for some carve outs, like an 'on premise smoking license', which alcohol license holders could optionally purchase at additional cost.
z | 02.20.08 - 10:52 am | #

Yeah, fighting the smoking ban here in Washington was a frustrating experience. The surprising thing for me was that, as one of the I-901 supporters revealed to me, there were equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans who supported it in their polls. It was a true bi-partisan shafting.
thehim | Homepage | 02.20.08 - 1:51 pm | #

I'd like to comment on this issue. The whole smoking ban thing--I think it's ridiculous and ludicrous. Like enough people aren't losing their jobs already, just what we need is some dumb law to put 200 places out of business.

The leading cause is from 2nd hand smoking can lead to health hazards. Yep. So...they trying to tell me that smoking is the only thing with carcinogens? There is a ton of things that is hazardous in the world today.

Whoever is complaining about smoking in bars is just another case of ranting and raving. It just doesn't make sense to me. A bar is filled with alcohol and beer which probably leads to almost just as much "instant" deaths from drunk drivers and DUI's.

I used to work with an older guy at my job, and he quit for like 20 years. HE thinks it's ridiculous.
Kev | 02.24.08 - 6:46 am | #

what happened back in the early 1900's when booze was outlawed (prohibition). The criminals took over the illegal alchohal trade, check the history of Chicago. Crime grew. Big brother is alive and well today. It should be up to the business owners and the patrons of the establishment not the federal, state or even the local govt's to be the deciding factor, is the land of the free turning into THE RUSSIA of the 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.
Jon Mitton | 03.03.08 - 7:56 pm | #

Smoking bans are a good idea but they don't go far enough. SMOKING SHOULD BE ILLEGAL OUTRIGHT!!! With other vices (fast food, chocolate, alcohol, etc.), they are only harmful to one's health when engaged in to an excessive degree, and in some cases, when used in moderation, they can actually have health benefits! However, with smoking and other tobacco use, EVEN ONE IS TOO MANY because of the nicotene addicting you to the product, therefore causing you to indulge in more of it than you would if it were not present. You should see this page: http://whyquit.com/joel/ Joel_Ind...l_Index_01.html .

Also, the tobacco companies use the "freedom of choice" argument only because they've addicted you to nicotene. And here you're accusing the government of taking freedoms away (although they are being spineless by refusing to do the right thing correctly even if it means forfeiting their smoking tax revenue)!!! The tobacco companies are the ones taking away the freedom in the first place!!
Ryan | Homepage | 05.16.08 - 10:31 pm | #

Ryan, are you saying that addiction to alcohol doesn't exist? what about the kid who does 21 shots on his 21st birthday and dies of alcohol poisoning? Please show me the case of the night where someone smoked 21 cigarettes and died that night because of it.

The whole point of freedom is being free to make the wrong choices. Do you want to be a robot, or do you want to be free?
Matt | Homepage | 08.06.08 - 12:38 pm | #

Well thanks for this post, it helped me out by giving some mature insite on what is going on in other places with the smoking ban. Im writing a research paper on the topic, and guess what, Im citing this artical in my opinion section!
Anonymous | 04.21.09 - 12:52 pm | #