I’m for a smoking ban, within reason

The Corbin Community Coalition is distributing a smoking survey in restaurants in the City of Corbin. Questions are: Should smoking be banned in restaurants? Are you a smoker? If smoking was banned in the City of Corbin would you be less likely to go to restaurants? Overall, do you think a smoking ban would benefit the Corbin community?

Personally, I am for a smoking ban, within reason. I say within reason because cities like Lexington go too far with their ban. For example, you can’t smoke in a cigar bar. Why else would you go there but to smoke? They don’t allow smoking in bars. This doesn’t seem logical. The patrons of bars know what to expect and if they choose to go to a bar then that is their choice. No gripes. As for the workers, they can find other employment if they object. The health issue aside, and there are plenty of issues that would support a smoking ban, I have other reasons I am against smoking in restaurants. For one, I don’t like to breathe other people’s smoke. For me, that’s reason enough.

There are many major cities that ban smoking in public places. Several states like New York, California, Georgia and Florida also have a ban. But what about Corbin? Are the city fathers going to base their vote on the survey that is being distributed? If they do then I have a problem with that. For one, the survey is being distributed by a coalition that is against smoking in restaurants. The survey doesn’t require a signature. It is being taken to restaurants owners and asking them to distribute the survey to their customers. Since it doesn’t require a signature, if I’m a restaurant owner who is for or against smoking, then what prevents me from filling out all 50 forms the coalition gave me to hand out?

There is little accountability.

Then what if the restaurant owner handed out the survey only to a lunch crowd? Don’t you think you would get a different answer than if you handed it out to a karaoke crowd or an evening or breakfast crowd? I’m all for the coalition’s drive to ban smoking, but there is a better way to find out how the people feel. Hire a research firm that is not biased and is skilled in doing surveys. No research firm would allow as many loose ends as this survey does.

I’m told this issue cannot be put on a ballot but if it could only the people who live in the city would decide the outcome. This is the way it should be when elected city officials are called upon to make the final decision. I believe if you ask the person on the street about their opinion, a great majority would be for a ban. But if you could place the issue on a ballot it may not pass because so many for a ban would not go to the polls whereas the smokers would definitely show up. Or the city fathers could only consider health issues alone. This would definitely support a ban.

I love it when I go to Lexington and I don’t have to wait for a table when half the restaurant is empty on the smoking side like it is so often in local restaurants. I believe any smoker, and I was one many years ago, can give up a cigarette for an hour.

They don’t smoke in church or at a concert or in a movie. Is it asking too much to give it up while eating? Thanks to the coalition for making the smoking issue visible. Even if I don’t agree with your survey techniques, I support your stance.

However I don’t want to shortchange either side and that’s why only this newspaper has asked both smokers and non-smokers their opinions. You can see and hear those opinions also on our Web Site at www.thenewsjournal.net