Two-thousand eight has begun and despite the smoking ban in Illinois, the sun still rose in the east, the moon still shines at night and we all still pay taxes. But yet I still have the concern that freedoms were lost.
Now I'm all for the smoking ban in places such as schools, churches, municipal buildings, libraries, retail shops, etc., but as for restaurants and bars there should have been some type of exemption. Reason - these are places no one HAS to go there and are completely personal choice. If you don't like the bar or restaurant, you don't have to go in, smoking ban or not. Employees are another consideration, but a vast majority of employees of the bar and restaurant industry claim that's why they chose to work there; they could smoke on the job. Couldn't we just mandate these places put signage out to indicate whether it is smoking or non-smoking?
I am not a smoker. Never have been. There are a few bars I never went to partly because of the smoke, but mostly it wasn't what I preferred. Smoking ban or not, it will still be the same way. A non-smoker does not like to go to Joe's Tap because of the smoke. This non-smoker will probably still not go to Joe's Tap because he doesn't know the clientele and/or the now smoke-free atmosphere because it just does not appeal to him/her.
If a bar owner ran a cigar bar, where smokers could enjoy a good cigar and drink (
Cognac perhaps), this law would either run the owner out of business, or he would be forced to drastically alter his business plan; perhaps one that would not work. Why can't smokers have a place to enjoy their habit? Using tobacco is still legal, right? Under this cigar bar situation, what non-smoker is wanting to patronize this business that caters to smokers?
Another problem I see with this ban is that private clubs are banned from smoking right in their own property. Is this even constitutional? And this leads me to believe this will be a prelude and
precedence to
residential smoking bans as I have previously predicted. Don't believe me? It's already happening in the northwest with apartment complexes.
But as with any new law, regardless to how well drafted it is (this one sure isn't), there will always be people trying to skirt around it. Here's some ideas:
- Like many adult establishments, and if you can work it out with your town council, set up a "BYOB" establishment. Sell tobacco products and light up there. I don't know if it would really be profitable, but it's an idea.
- If your bar already has a beer garden, and you have the capital, spruce it up. Include flat panel TVs, music, heating units, fans, hot barmaids, etc. Inside, leave nothing; no entertainment at all. Save energy by lowering the thermostat in the winter and perhaps turning off the A/C in the summer. Cut staff inside. All your business will be outside anyway.
- Sit out spittoons and allow chewing.
- Purchase your tobacco from out of state if you can or just quit as a way to stick it to Illinois. Patronize places that let you smoke "under the table" or look the other way; avoid or boycott places that are fascist about this ban.
Common Sense of it All: I think this smoking ban goes too far and the Illinois Legislature allowed no room for compromise. While bars and restaurants will continue, the bars with outdoor beer gardens, or the bars able to establish such gardens will thrive. Those that don't or unable will suffer. And like the unpopular speed limits, this law will undoubtedly be broken all the time. It's just the continued legislation of morality. Freedom comes at a high price. I'm willing to lose lung and life for it.
