If you have already seen this article please just skip it and go to the polling choices below:
Smoking Bans: More Questions than Answers
I travel, a lot. That’s part of the field service lifestyle. Another part of my life style is that I smoke.
As you already know, a persistent effort (by certain small but outspoken groups) is continuously increasing the number of smoking bans being enacted across our great nation.
It’s just that something seems very odd to me. The forces that push these bans normally run a series of commercials (via TV and radio spots) under the auspices of being a public service notice. Several months after the enactment of the ban we hear cheerful, voices happily proclaiming that there has been no effect on bar and restaurant business since the ban.
Is it just me or do these ads seem to fail the smell test? It just doesn’t make sense to me that when a fifth of the people (about 21% of adults smoke) that are potential bar and restaurant patrons are made to feel slighted, uncomfortable or unwanted, that this doesn’t negatively affect all aspects of the hospitality industry.
Yes, I know, there are studies out there claiming to “prove” this is so, but there are also equally valid studies that show the opposite. I’m an engineer by trade and I truly have issues with folks who use dribs and drabs of information to support their position, then have the nerve to call it science. It’s not science, it‘s propaganda!
Another issue I find very disturbing, is that our legislators (with little or no representation of the people) continue to offset our enormous federal and state deficits, with substantial tax increases on the sale of tobacco products. They appear to have singled out smokers to bear a significant percentage of this burden. But I digress.
There are three questions that I would like to have answered. The first is for smokers, the other two are for owners of bars and restaurants. The reason that I have these questions is that I have created a website to assist the smoking public and I could always use more input and information. It is a list of places, across America, that are still smoker friendly.
For smokers my question is this. Have you changed your habits since a smoking ban was enacted in your city? In other words, have you decreased or stopped the number of times that you frequent restaurants or bars?
For the owners out there I ask this: 1) has a smoking ban affected your business? 2) Is it worth the time, effort, and expense to build or maintain a smoker friendly atmosphere within the laws of your area? The first question, I admit, is because I would simply like to get at the truth of the matter. The second question seems to be the one most relevant to an establishments business and continued success.
Choose the poll you want.