Many claim that strong factual evidence does not exist to show that second-hand smoke found in public places such as bars or restaurants is harmful enough to warrant a ban. Economically speaking, it is believed that smoking bans would cut sales, in turn cutting tax revenues. This doesn’t even mention the potential job losses at stake for those who make a living off the tobacco industry. Also, taxes were recently raised on tobacco through the federal government to help fund SCHIP, a health insurance program for children. Obviously, reduced tobacco sales would reduce the tax revenue used to help support such a program. Finally, there is the issue of human rights and choice, and many believe that private business owners should have the right to decide whether or not to allow smoking on their premises. If business owners see that many patrons complain of smoke, they can choose to ban it to help promote their business. On the flip side, if they see that many are not affected by smoking, they can keep their establishment as one that permits smoking.

Whatever happens with the proposed smoking bans in Indiana, you can be sure that someone will end up disappointed, whether it be smokers or non-smokers.

Smoking ban in South Carolina’s York County affecting businesses

A ban on indoor smoking that was approved in May of 2009 has threatened many long-time businesses in South Carolina’s York County. The ban has not only flustered many patrons who used to enjoy smoking indoors at their favorite bars and restaurants; it has also flustered are many owners of such establishments, who claim that the indoor smoking ban has greatly affected their revenue and has caused many to cut jobs to avoid having to shut down business altogether. In January opponents and proponents of the ban clashed heads at a York County Council meeting to express concern over the changes that the ban has caused for many of the county’s local businesses.

The negative economic changes have led many in York County to ask for an amendment to the ban. At the heart of the amendment is a proposal to exempt places that do not allow patrons or have employees under the age of 21 as well as establishments that have private memberships. Examples of such members-only clubs would be Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts, where many members have claimed that they can no longer enjoy their gatherings as they used to, since they now have to go outside to enjoy a smoke.