Are You Smoking?

I don't smoke. I don't allow smoking in my house either. It sometimes bothers my eyes, especially when I wear my contacts. Having said that, I don't begrudge anyone that does smoke. Smoking is something that cuts across socioeconomic groups and affects people of all ages. I think it is a matter of personal choice. Some people begin smoking at an early age in order to fit in or be cool. Smoking is so addictive that many become consumers for life. I tried smoking when I first started drinking, usually when there were lovely, young ladies smoking. I didn't like it, so I stopped. I don't think I would have liked someone telling me that I had to quit, though. That leads into our real topic......

Lexington's Smoking Ban

History

A little over a year ago, Kentucky's Supreme Court ruled 6 to 1 that the smoking ban "does not improperly infringe on private property rights of business owners." The ban, which applies to bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, laundries, nightclubs and most enclosed public places was the first of its kind in Kentucky and took effect almost immediately. The lone dissenter of the KSC, Justice Graves of Paducah, was quoted as saying the ban is “arbitrary and oppressive.” He went on to say, “Since tobacco is a legal product and smoking, a legal activity, the private business owner should have the choice to either prohibit smoking in his or her establishment, or be permitted and required to warn patrons that smoking is allowed and that secondhand smoke presents a health hazard." Controlling people's lives must be contagious, because Georgetown just became the second city in Kentucky to pass a smoking ban.

In my opinion

As I said before, I don't smoke. I don't believe that gives me the right to tell people they can't smoke wherever I go. The Lexington Fayette Urban County Council doesn't see it that way. They have taken it upon themselves to decide what is best for me and you. I believe that decision should have been left up to the business owners to decide how to handle smoking in THEIR place of business. There have been restaurants that have prohibited smoking in Lexington for some time now, by choice. When I went to a restaurant, bar or nightclub before the smoking ban, I made a conscious decision to deal with secondhand smoke. Anytime I felt uncomfortable with the level of smoke in the room, I could stay or go home. Don't get me wrong, I know secondhand smoke is dangerous. This is a well documented fact, but does that give the government the right and responsibility to prevent me from coming in contact with it. If so, what's next? Drinking alcohol is a personal choice that can be harmful to yourself and others. We already hold bartenders and businesses responsible if they let a patron leave their establishment who is obviously impaired. Will restaurants be required to call a taxi for anyone who has had more than 4 drinks? Will bars be required to give all patrons a breathalyzer before letting them head into the parking lot? Will alcohol sales be banned again? I doubt any of these things will happen, but with 'Big Brother' deciding what is best for us, you never know.

On a side note: Mike Scanlon has stood behind the results of a study that says the smoking ban has not had an adverse effect on Lexington businesses, even though logic dictates that smokers are more likely to stay home in order to drink and smoke in comfort during the harsh winter months. Another study recently reported that alcohol sales to Lexington businesses by four distributors was down from the previous year. Scanlon's response to this study was, "Figures lie and liars figures." How can you stand behind the numbers of one study and then totally discount the findings of the next? Are you a complete fucking moron?