Posted on 06/21/2005 11:16:06 AM PDT by Pyro7480
D.C. Council's Schwartz: Ban alcohol along with smoking in bars
Tim Lemke
Staff Reporter
D.C. Councilwoman Carol Schwartz introduced a bill Tuesday that would ban the sale of alcohol in all bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Suddenly, the debate over a proposed smoking ban in D.C. is getting fun.
In what appears to be a statement against anti-smoking legislation, the councilwoman, D-at large, introduced "the Worker Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2005, Part II," a response to a public health bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants in the District.
"I never thought I could ban drinking just because I didn't like it, but now I know I can," Schwartz says in a lengthy, satirical statement. "The impending smoking ban has empowered me."
It's unclear whether her argument for a drinking ban will change the minds of the nine members of the D.C. Council who support a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. Schwartz has successfully blocked efforts to institute a smoking ban in each of the past three years and recently introduced compromise legislation to encourage smoke-free bars rather than mandate the practice.
The council could vote on the anti-smoking ban before the July recess.
No word yet on when an alcohol ban could come up for a vote. In a release, Schwartz says D.C. Council Chairman Linda Cropp describes the measure as "very thought-provoking."
Schwartz makes clear that a ban on drinking in bars and restaurants does not mean people can't drink at home and outside.
"It had just never occurred to me that I could simply choose to ban a legal choice for consenting adults in a private place where the public does not have to go, and where workers do not have to work, and then get six other people to agree -- and then just do it," Schwartz says.
The councilwoman says she is now looking at other things to ban, including driving and sex, "for they, too, can be dangerous to your health and the health of others."
Sorry forgot the /Sarc off
You got it..LOL..
By the way, your interstate has signal lights, too? ;)
Interstate 285 goes around Atlanta - and around and around and around. There are no redlights.
.
Red light district is my guess??
Ithought we went through Prohibition 1919-1932...which gave us the cherubic countenance of Carrie Nation, the rise of the Mafia, and a whole host of lovely consequences of an idiot law that doesn't work. It's strange that the loudest screaming for these prohibitions is coming from the left (all in the name of keeping America healthy of course), who would never refuse us an abortion even if it were hazardous to our health. Should I start dusting off grandpa's old still?
guess I'm gonna have to resort to making plume wine under the kitchen sink.
This apparently is the philosophy of a lot of members of the Chicago City Council --and legislative bodies everywhere--except they're serious about it.
If she ever gets tired of D.C., I would welcome her to come out and run in my ward.
Well, I guess we'll all start having house parties. Actually, they are a lot more fun than bars.....and cheaper too.
Knock, knock, anyone home?
They can have my beer when they pry its cold, refreshing crispness from my somewhat numb fingers.
I think that stands for "District -At Large".
Color me sceptical, but I find it hard to believe that a person this intelligent and principled was elected to city council!
Particularly in Washington.
I think it's great! Funny.
At first I thought this was from the Onion or Scrapple Face but it wasn't. What an idiot!
Read the article! She is pulling a Rush Limbaugh - demonstrating absurdity by being absurd!
Thanks. Am at work and sometimes get distracted. Damn job!
Read on. She's an opponent of the smoking ban and is trying to demonstrate that ban's absurdity by being absurd.
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