With the new session of the General Assembly about to start up, Governor Tim Kaine has renewed his efforts to ban smoking in every restaurant in Virginia:
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday that he will renew his push for a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, a proposal that faces a stiff challenge in a state with a powerful tobacco lobby.
Speaking at a restaurant in Virginia Beach, Kaine (D) said he will introduce legislation during the session, which begins tomorrow, that would prohibit smoking in indoor establishments that serve food — including private clubs.
“We all know the scientific evidence of the health risks of secondhand smoke is very clear,” said Kaine, who added that the Virginia Department of Health estimates that secondhand smoke is responsible for 1,700 deaths in the state each year.
“This is about the health of restaurant patrons, but some of them can have a choice to go to another restaurant. But hundreds of thousands of Virginians’ livelihoods depend on working in a bar and restaurant, and they don’t have a choice,” the governor said.
The problem is, the very restaurant Kaine chose to announce his proposal is an example of the fact that restaurant patrons do have a choice:
Flanked by lawmakers who said they will sponsor smoking-ban bills this year, Kaine made the announcement at Hot Tuna Bar & Grill, a smoke-free restaurant on Shore Drive.
(…)
About 560 Virginia Beach restaurants have voluntarily gone smoke-free, according to Virginia Beach Restaurant Association officials who support a statewide ban.
Yes, that’s right, there are over 500 restaurants in the Virginia Beach area that have voluntarily chosen to go smoke-free. Others meanwhile, have chosen to permit smoking:
Nat Stowe, owner of Nat’s Surf Sports Grill on Laskin Road, where smoking is allowed, said he and other owners should be able to make their own decisions.
“If we give them the right to do this, what’s next?” Stowe said. “I know that smoking is politically incorrect, but if the governor said red meat is bad for you and ordered that steak and hamburger be taken off the menu, everybody would be up in arms about it.”
Oh come now, Mr. Stowe. Governor Kaine is from the government, he knows better than you.
Right ?
Yea, I don’t think so either.
H/T: Vivian Paige
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
What about the single mom who works in a restaurant. She does not have a choice weather or not to leave the restaurant. She needs the job, and she should not have to suffer from someone else choosing to smoke.
Thanks