Good we agree on that point.
What right do you have to operate your restaurant?
The same right as anyone else, including you, to open a business.
Your restaurant is licensed to operate in accordance with regulations set by society. It is society operating through their government representatives that set those regulations.
Yes, the laws and regulations in place at the time I was licensed to open my business.
Are all regulations required or sensible? Of course not; but that is not the argument you are trying to use.
That is very much part of my argument. The rest of my arguement you have chosen to ignore.
All the employees and the vast majority of the employees smoke - they are the bread and butter - they are the reason the business remains a viable establishment - shouldn't those be who is provided a "safe and comfortable" environment????????
You are totally ignoring the idea of the market being allowed to make the decision. If the customers would prefer a no-smoking environment they should be talking to the owner, as opposed to talk to their "representatives."
Because when they insist on going to their "representatives" the clientele of the other establishments, who have spoken to the owners are made to suffer - as are the owners who have listend to their customers.
Are you, like the poster I originally replied to, opposed to all regulations? If you do, then you oppose my position. If you do not, then you agree with me on the essence but maybe not on the specifics. That, I am not trying to argue. If you want the market to decide all, then consider it necessary to perform your own sanitary inpections of any restaurant you might eat in. Some proprietors have no concept of what is required till they read the regulations. Of course regulations come at a price but the benefit may be greater than the cost. If it is not, the regulation should be removed or modified.