As the debate over a proposed smoking ban rages on for another week, the press seems to be missing one of the main points over why a smoking ban isn't needed.
Freedom of choice. We all have the freedom to enter any establishment we want to. If a restaurant allows smoking, we have the choice of going somewhere else. If more and more of us choose to go somewhere else, those establishments that allow smoking will either change or go out of business.
It's simple math really, 77 percent of people don't smoke. What do you think would happen if all those people voted with their dollars and decided not to patronize restaurants that allowed smoking?
For more on the idea of this being missed, a recent Asheville Citizen-Times article looked at smoking in Haywood County restaurants. One anti-smoking advocate argued, "We're putting ourselves and our families' health at risk when we go to places that allow smoking inside."
Ok, then don't go in there! It's that simple.
Ironically, a sidebar on the same page reads: "To view a list of Haywood County's 80-plus smoke-free restaurants, visit haywoodcountynews.com or call the Haywood County Health Department at 452-6675."
Hmm… so there are at least 80-plus other options on where to go out to eat instead of HAVING to go to a smoking allowed restaurant. And there are 80-plus restaurants who have already decided for themselves that banning smoking was in their best interest — and didn't need government to tell them to do it.
“We’re putting ourselves and our families’ health at risk when we go to places that allow smoking inside” Yep, you are.