You are absolutely correct, Gabz. I know that you are even more well-informed than the average Joe and Jane on this topic.
Yes, the forest must be in the way, because I find this topic to be so clearly "black and white". There is no inbetween on this issue. A person either believes in private property rights or they don't. Period. Smoking is a second-hand issue (excuse the pun).
The nonsmokers have every right to open a bar, or any other business of their choice and ban smoking within their establishment. What these special interest groups have done is to take away the rights of everyone else; both bar owners and smokers.
I don't like junk food, and especially dislike "fast food chains", but I would never try to form a special interest group and attempt to shut them down, or force them to only serve healthy food to their customers. That is one right we still have. We have the right to pick and choose which businesses we will cater to. If a person doesn't like bars that allow patrons to smoke, then don't go there!
Ahhh, it's just so simple. Commonsense, where'd it go? sigh
I really wish I knew.
What really gets me is the absolute blindness expressed on these threads by supposed small government loving conservatives who are all in favor of this nonsense.