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GLI OPPOSES BLANKET SMOKING BANS IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS

Rich Gimmel

Chairman

Public Policy Committee

Greater Louisville, Inc.

As an advocate for local business, Greater Louisville, Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce, is taking a position strongly in opposition to a blanket smoking ban in bars and restaurants.

The dangers of smoking are conspicuous, make no mistake about it.   And our opposition to a smoking ban doesn’t mean that GLI endorses smoking.

Proponents of a ban, who by the way are financed almost totally with government funds, originally tried to portray a smoking ban as a public health issue.  But that logic hasn’t gained much traction with the public.

When the public health argument didn’t catch fire, proponents shifted strategy and began to portray it as an employee health issue.  But employees also make choices.  Police and fire protection, construction, mining, etc., are hazardous jobs.  Many people choose to avoid those professions for that very reason.  We all make choices as to the kinds of jobs and work environments we seek.

The fact is, consumers also have choices as to whether to expose themselves to second-hand smoke in a bar or restaurant.  But proponents of a smoking ban want to remove our right to choose.

If a company has created an unwelcome environment for customers, people will take their business elsewhere.  Subsequently, if there is a significant demand for smoke-free businesses, then business will find a way to meet that demand.  That’s what free markets are all about.  Case in point: the Jazz Factory, a successful public club which opened this year that bans smoking.

Clearly, government intrusion on this matter is not needed, unless, of course, you buy the argument that “government knows best” and our citizens are incapable of deciding on their own whether to patronize, or apply for employment at, a business that allows smoking.

Obviously the public – the vast majority of which does not smoke – gets it.  Local polls indicate that only about one-third of them support a ban.

So proponents now find themselves in the rather preposterous position of using government funds to lobby government to take a position that its citizens don’t support.

We applaud Mayor Jerry Abramson, who has advised the Metro Council to move slowly and thoughtfully on this issue.  The Mayor says he won’t support a total smoking ban.  We wholeheartedly agree.

Voluntarily relinquishing individual or business freedoms should never be taken lightly.

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