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."
I'd be in favor of that. At least, ill-behaved children of liberal yuppie parents who consider any form of discipline as child-abuse.
Why are Cigars exempt from this? The town right next to ours is instituting a smoking ban, yet a cigar/Wine bar is getting all sorts of praise.
Isn't second hand cigar smoke full of carcinogens as well?
We were at a sushi bar the other night and the kid at the next table (who the hell brings a kid to a sushi bar?) decided to take off her dress and strip down to her diaper. She was maybe 2 years old. The parents just let her do it. It boggles the mind.
I'm sure parents think that their kids are special little miracles. Well, the rest of us know how to use birth control and we don't want your screaming little monsters ruining our dinners.
Good article. I wish someone had thought of this in Austin, where smoking was banned by a vote of 52% to 48% just a couple of weeks ago.
Never thought I'd see it in Texas..
How do you know I didn't mean every word?
It's threads like this, and this post in particular, that make me long for the good ol' days on FR. Dumber and dumber.
Drunken driving is not the only "risk to others" out there from drinking. If the Antialcohol crowd had access to the hundreds of millions of dollars given every year to the Antismokers I think we'd see Carol Schwartz's proposal treated a lot more seriously.
See my own writing on the subject at the online British Medical Journal site at:
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/330/7495/812#105082
Worrying about secondhand alcohol fumes is nonsense of course... but no more so than worrying about wisps of smoke in a well-ventilated restaurant or bar.
Michael J. McFadden
Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"
http://cantiloper.tripod.com
What a trip to read some people's initial takes on Councilwoman Schwartz' bill! That's what I meant about our ignorant multitudes in my post about the Tabacco Free Kids' petition. It's frightening to think we have to deal with these people every day, and no one even makes them wear a sign.
I swear, I didn't know it was already on FR when I saw the story among my Alerts and posted it to the groups, but it really grabbed me! What a fight she's putting up. She is absolutely terrific!! Too bad we can't get her to run for President. Looks like she could beat any of the competition hands down. What an improvement over Bush she'd be!!
(I like your evil laugh!)
President Bush has never said anything one way or the other over the smoking bans. If he ever did, it's behind closed doors.
I think the anti's are really mad at our President because he won't come forward to support them. But he has enough to worry about without getting into it with the anti's.
If I were a politician in my district, I would definitely follow thru with her obvious sarcasm. Perhaps it would wake up the ignorant masses who are only concerned about their own personal likes and dislikes......
I know it! hehe
Some didn't get her brand of humor in the beginning, but I think they do now. She is just saying that if smoking (which is legal) can be banned in a private business, then she is going after some more legal things. What a hoot!
Please read post #61
Please read post #61
I need that OPM sticker for my car. Ya know, like the idiots that have a Nantucket sticker.
Wrong. Moderate consumption of alcohol saves untold lives every year, by preventing heart disease and other true scourges.
Ban sitting on those bar stools. Folks can fall off, and they need the exercise anyway.
I've been away from computer and news all day - but hubby told me about this - good on her!!!!!!!!!! Someone is getting it - finally. Now I have lots of reding to do.
My friends snapped up the original order quantity pretty quickly, but the people at Makestickers.com made them up and delivered in short order, the results were great, and they weren't too expensive... (No, I get no 'cut', and I am NOT affiliated in any way, just a happy customer.)
Source: Makestickers.com at: http://65.165.2.251/stickers/display.asp?cat=105
I am sure you'd have no trouble replicating the OPM sticker using one of their templates, and I'd be MOST pleased to see them EVERYWHERE! ...LOL
ta.
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