That smoking bans might be causing drinkers to drive farther to get to a place they can smoke & drink, I will stipulate the likelihood. No quarrel there.
But…
Yeesh, does anyone proofread for 'badly worded"?
Darn, I thought that smoking ban would cut down on the number of drunks on our highways, but I guess we need to look at other options… I know! We’ll ban peanuts and TV sets from all public venues!
That is an issue here in NV, although I haven’t gone in search of any statistics.
Here, if a bar serves food, they cannot allow smoking. The theory is, is that smokers will choose to go to bars that allow smoking but have no food.
The people will drink and drink, but unlike in a bar that serves food, when they have had a few and want to eat something to help come down off the booze buzz, there is no real food the bar can serve to patrons. So the drunk bar patrons have to get in their car drive to another establishment to get food.
So, if we want to cut down on driving-related fatalities, we should make it mandatory to allow smoking in all public venues, so that smokers don’t spend more time on the road searching out places where they can indulge.
Makes sense to me! :dubious:
How does that justify allowing smoking in restaurants or bars? I’m a smoker, and I abhor the anti-smoking laws, but even I can see the it’s a lame argument. Making the decision to drive drunk has nothing to do with being a smoker. How about placing accountability where it belongs?
I don’t get it. I’ve been in bars where patrons are not allowed to smoke. When they feel like a smoke they just step outside for a few minutes. How would that have any effect, for good or for ill, on their driving habits?
…says the guy who lives in Florida!
I was just stating what I have read in local papers regarding the smoking restrictions in bars. That’s all.
A link that may provide a clearer analysis of the issue.