Smoking is a disgusting and detrimental habit. I don’t smoke and I don’t like when other people smoke around me. Yet, it’s legal and it’s a personal right.
A few weeks ago, the Colorado Legislature gave the initial okay to a statewide smoking ban that would prohibit smoking in any public place including bars, taverns, casinos, restaurants, grocery stores and most indoor work or public places. Smoking would be allowed in cigar bars and the smoking lounge at DIA.
Some lawmakers tried to pass a similar ban several times in the last few years, but it has been killed. Those for the bill argue that nonsmokers shouldn’t have to deal with secondhand smoke around them. Those against it argue that many public institutions thrive on smoking as an activity and that many businesses will suffer in result of the ban.
No matter how disgusting the habit, the decision should rest in the hands of businesses, not the government. The government shouldn’t be able to force bars and other businesses to change the way they run a business. It is up to the owners to decide if they will be smoke-free or not, and it is up to the patrons to decide if they would like to frequent that business.
The bill affects all public institutions. However, many office buildings, stores and eateries are smoke-free already. Even grocery stores are mentioned in the bill. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never seen anyone lighting up in Safeway. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not allowed. Many Denver restaurants are smoke-free as well. Exceptions are those that act as a bar and restaurant, and even then, many of them are divided into smoking and non-smoking sections.
It’s true; secondhand smoke can create health problems for even the non-smoker.
But even if this bill passes and smoking is banned from indoor spaces, won’t we still be plagued by smoke? Instead of being inside the bar, smokers will be steps outside it. What about the smokers you are around constantly like your mother, brother, friend or uncle? If we want to safeguard our health or protect our children, why not try a bigger step? Why not just ban it all together?
For those people who may hope that a ban will reduce the number of smokers, it won’t. Stepping outside of the venue to light up is a lot easier and less complicated than giving up the habit. Besides, they’ve been doing it for years. Again, most public places are smoke-free already. The most significant change will be in bars. Won’t frequent visitors of bars be trying to avoid their own health issues anyway?
Businesses should be the decision maker, not the government. The law shouldn’t tell businesses if they should allow smoking or not. Especially in cases of bars and casinos, smoking practically goes hand in hand there. It is up to the customers whether they go there or not. Businesses should decide whether they want to be smoke free. Enough government intervention.
