In response to Herbert Smith's letter (March 1), I believe the large majority of people who eat out prefer to eat in a smoke-free environment because of proven health risks of secondary smoke.
As suggested by Smith, you do have a choice of eating elsewhere. However, many can afford to eat at a cafeteria, for example, but find it a little too expensive to eat at a restaurant. Seniors, in particular, can find a good, balanced, healthy meal at one of the cafeterias without stretching their budget.
Many accept the fact that secondhand smoke is dangerous and feel it is their moral obligation to voluntarily offer a smoke-free facility. I have often wondered how restaurants that offer smoking or nonsmoking areas keep the smoke in the smoking section while not having a separate ventilating system for each.
My wife agrees with all the above, but believes that government should not make the decision. However, if eating places do not voluntarily restrict smoking, I support the bill introduced to ban smoking. This won't be the first time I've disagreed with my wife.
George W. Williams
Greensboro
Comments (11)
Your wife is a wise woman Mr. Williams.
Posted by Dan | March 13, 2005 7:54 AM
If such a large majority of people supports smoke-free restaurants, then surely in a free market plenty of voluntarily smoke-free restaurants will spring up. You just have to let them know there's the demand for it. Start telling the manager of each restaurant you go to that you want them voluntarily to become smoke-free. Ask all of your friends and family to do the same.
Posted by Paul Elledge | March 13, 2005 1:24 PM
There already are a lot of smoke-free restaurants. most fast-food restaurants are smoke free. The IHOP on Battleground is smoke-free. Moe's and Qedoba's are another couple I've been to recently that are smoke-free.
Posted by Rusty Sheridan | March 13, 2005 1:47 PM
Mr. Sheridan, Thank you for listing some smoke-free restaurants. I was at IHop yesterday and throughly enjoyed my meal. I had not known in advance they had gone smoke-free. I was in the area and stopped in. The place was overflowing with people waiting to be seated. This spoke volumes to me about the need for more smoke-free choices. I hope other restaurant owners will discover going smoke-free will not cripple their business but enhance it.
Posted by Yvonne | March 14, 2005 7:38 AM
I would absolutely support any restaurant making that decision for themselves. If it's in their best business interests, they should go for it. I just object to when the government mandates some decision that the restaurant owner is fully capable of making on their own.
Posted by Rusty Sheridan | March 14, 2005 9:21 AM
Although, be careful attributing the large crowd to the fact that the restaurant is smoke free. It was a Sunday, after all. Herbie's Place is packed on a Sunday too, and the majority of that restaurant is smoking.
Posted by Rusty Sheridan | March 14, 2005 9:23 AM
I go to a restaurant for the food, the smoking is not an issue. I usually don't sit in the smoking area, but it doesn't bother me.
I try to have some tolerance for the actions of others, and respect their right to smoke in the smoking area. That's what it's there for.
Posted by Parker Hale | March 14, 2005 11:14 AM
Nice to see Yvonne and Rusty not really argue over smoking.
But, Yvonne, IHOP on Battleground is almost always crowded because it's so small. They can't seat very many people. And like Rusty said, it was a Sunday, and that's when they're the busiest. To assume that the long line was due to the fact that they're smoke-free is inane.
Posted by Paul Elledge | March 14, 2005 6:09 PM
I have a solution for people who always want to have it their way when they go out to eat. If you follow my solution, you can eat without loud cell-phone conversations, second-hand smoke, brats that you don't know, etc. It's called the drive-thru.
Posted by another bigmouth | March 15, 2005 11:53 AM
Drive thrus? That means fast food. No thanks. Besides, if everybody sat around in idling cars. Either way you look at it... smoke gets in the air. Bummer.
Posted by Anonymous | March 15, 2005 3:00 PM
Sonny's Real Pit BBQ has a drive thru. Are those in Greensboro? I don't know. Lots down in Charlotte.
Posted by Rusty Sheridan | March 15, 2005 3:53 PM