2008 Woodie Awards
Our Readers' Voice
Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: Voices
Lindsey Digue, Mount Pleasant sophmore
Smoking Ban
Ban smoking in bars, restaurants or any other private business? Absolutely not. Jeff Robinson's Sept. 17 letter couldn't be more wrong when he states that Mount Pleasant should enact anti-smoking ordinances like New York City.
He claims that due to his major being Health Fitness, he has been made "very aware" of the dangers of smoking. Good for him, but I've known that smoking is bad since elementary school. It's also irrelevant to the argument. I've worked as a bouncer for a bar in Traverse City in the past, and I can tell you that alcohol can lead to fights. Should we ban alcohol from restaurants and bars? No.
So if smoking is bad for one's health, then why shouldn't the government ban it from restaurants and bars? It's quite simple, because restaurants and bars are private establishments. If one doesn't like the fact that an establishment allows smoking inside their premises, they certainly don't have to patronize it. Assuming a proprietor is competent, the smoking policy of an establishment will be more than aptly determined by the market.
Thinking an establishment is public just because it invites the public is a flawed perception that unfortunately many people have. It is this perception that empowers people to advocate banning smoking in restaurants and bars despite the fact that a majority of its patrons have no issues that prevent their continued support of these establishments. I could have told you this even if I wasn't a business major. However, like I mentioned, it's a flawed perception.
Jason Gillman Jr., Traverse City senior
Smoking Ban
Ban smoking in bars, restaurants or any other private business? Absolutely not. Jeff Robinson's Sept. 17 letter couldn't be more wrong when he states that Mount Pleasant should enact anti-smoking ordinances like New York City.
He claims that due to his major being Health Fitness, he has been made "very aware" of the dangers of smoking. Good for him, but I've known that smoking is bad since elementary school. It's also irrelevant to the argument. I've worked as a bouncer for a bar in Traverse City in the past, and I can tell you that alcohol can lead to fights. Should we ban alcohol from restaurants and bars? No.
So if smoking is bad for one's health, then why shouldn't the government ban it from restaurants and bars? It's quite simple, because restaurants and bars are private establishments. If one doesn't like the fact that an establishment allows smoking inside their premises, they certainly don't have to patronize it. Assuming a proprietor is competent, the smoking policy of an establishment will be more than aptly determined by the market.
Thinking an establishment is public just because it invites the public is a flawed perception that unfortunately many people have. It is this perception that empowers people to advocate banning smoking in restaurants and bars despite the fact that a majority of its patrons have no issues that prevent their continued support of these establishments. I could have told you this even if I wasn't a business major. However, like I mentioned, it's a flawed perception.
Jason Gillman Jr., Traverse City senior
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Daniel Veach
posted 9/26/08 @ 10:41 AM EST
In reply to Lindseys' post:
I too was a bit nervous after reading that notice from Copper Beech but since then, I've met the ASPS officers and they are real stand up guys. (Continued…)
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