I don't know whether secondhand smoke causes cancer or not....I'm inclined to believe it possible it does if one is exposed to sufficient quantities (i.e. live with an indoor smoker or work at a smokey bar), and the risk is very minimal if one is only occasionally exposed at a restaurant or something.
Florida banned cigarette smoking in most restaurants about a year and a half ago. Most of these business have not suffered a loss in revenue. From a nonsmoker's perspective, I hate that the state is being a nanny, but am thrilled to go into a restaurant and not be subjected to smoke. I enjoy my meals much more when there is no smoking. If something good were to come out of the nanny-state-no-smoking rule, I believe some restaurants would continue to be nonsmoking if the smoking ban were repealed. I'd patronize such places, because again, I don't like to smell smoke when I eat. Nonsmoking sections don't cut it....but the decision should be the property owners instead of the state.
I hadn't been in Florida in the year before the restaurant ban went into effect, but before that found there were more non-smoking restaurants than those that permitted it. And patronized many of them, because the food was more important to me. I have no problem with private businesses not permitting it.........I have a major problem with the government doing it.
And what happened in Florida is even more horrible than what happened in Delaware, though perpetrated by the same people and the same money. The voters of Florida were lied to through a massive advertising campaign, that was paid for with both tax dollars (primarily tobacco taxes) and pharmaceutical money.
I'm glad you are happy with the ban, but hope with your claim you think it should be up to the owner, you would be in support of a repeal.
Most of these business have not suffered a loss in revenue.
I know that I still eat at restaurants that ban smokers..oops, I mean smoking. But If smokers chose to show restaurants and others through their pocketbooks, I believe there would be a significant loss of revenue.
Smokers though, are simply trying to follow the law and live as normally as they can, so they continue to give business to those who think they are somehow "less" than other patrons.
Most of the businesses in Florida can have a year round outdoor patio that can accomodate smokers.
Go to somewhere that can't accomodate smokers outdoors year round.