Dining out in Dallas will be less smoky under new ban
It's the age-old argument: smoking vs. health, tax dollars vs. the well-being of restaurant employees. At least in the city of Dallas, that argument has been settled. The City Council banned smoking in restaurants yesterday, and for those of us who are strongly anti-tobacco, it is a rousing victory.
DALLAS -- City leaders snuffed out smoking in restaurants Wednesday, passing an ordinance that exempts stand-alone bars, pool halls and tobacco shops that have separate areas for smoking.
The ban, approved 10-3 by city council members, also bans smoking in public places, including hotel bars and lobbies, country clubs, bingo halls, hospitals, libraries, schools and transit system vehicles. Many of those places already ban smoking or had areas restricted by the city.
Proponents of the Dallas ban, including Mayor Laura Miller, said only a ban can protect restaurant patrons and workers from secondhand smoke.
"Our most important role is to protect the health and safety of our citizens," said Councilwoman Elba Garcia.
But some restaurant owners argued it will cost them money or even force businesses to close if the ban drives customers to nearby suburbs.
William Moede, owner of a north Dallas restaurant, said he polled his customers and many will dine in nearby Richardson after the ban goes into effect March 1. That means he will have to lay off employees.
Economist Bernard Weinstein said the loss of smoking customers will further reduce sales tax revenue that already has been lagging, leaving Dallas with a budget shortfall.
"It's bad public policy in view of Dallas' weakened economy," he said.
Miller said studies show that cities that ban smoking do not suffer long-term economic losses.
Yeah, I know there are civil liberties questions in play here, and I can see the other sides viewpoint. Honestly, though, your right to smoke and pollute the air is trumped by my right to breathe clean air. My view is strongly colored by my own experienced, having spent too much time in old Socialist-era government office buildings in Eastern Europe. Those building were usually designed with windows that do not open, and virtually everyone smokes. Spend any time at all in that environment, and you too will quickly learn to hate cigarettes.
Dallas' new ordinance is not a cure-all, but I do think it is a step in the right direction. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.
