"I consider the lack of smoke-free establishments to be one of the few failings of the free enterprise system. Before the no-smoking laws there were no non-smoking bars or restaurants. And the system had failed me because it did not give me the choice I wanted.
Despite the fact that I think there is no such thing as "smoker's rights", I do think it would be possible to reach a compromise. Charge bars & restaurants for a smoking license. It would have to be a high enough charge to prevent them all from converting back, but at some price they would be about 50-50.
If they want to recoup the cost they could charge smokers something like $1.00 per cig to smoke in the place..."
I can't believe that I just read this total lack of thought. Were you not free to risk your own capitol and open a "no smoking" restaurant or bar? Would that not meet your requirements for a place to frequent? Just because you did not have the courage to risk your own capitol and your own time, you are calling for government regulation to off you your convenience.
...total lack of thought. Were you not free to risk your own capitol and open a "no smoking" restaurant or bar? While this is theoretically possible, it is you who have the lack of thought. I merely wanted to buy a drink, not the entire bar. There is a huge difference in cost, and even if I do buy the whole bar, I still have very limited choice.
The reality of this is that by insisting on a non-existent "right" to smoke everywhere and anywhere they want, smokers have fouled their own nest. The backlash has grown strong enough that the majority is passing laws which I agree are "bad", in the sense that they are an overreaction to the problem.
If smokers want to preserve any public smoking areas they really ought to get in front of the anti-smoking movement and start offering up some compromises. Agree to wide areas of non-smoking in order to preserve a few smoking areas.
This may be distasteful to many, but the fact is that the antis are looking pretty strong right now and smokers have the choice of reaching the best deal they can now, or being flattened by a steamroller over the next few years.