Smoking Restrictions Gaining Ground and Eminently Justified
by Ted Rueter

"The movement to restrict smoking in public places is gaining ground," writes Ted Rueter, assistant professor of political science at DePauw University, in today's edition of Indiana's Bloomington Herald-Times. Rueter notes that "almost 2,000 communities across the country have imposed smoking restrictions," including Bloomington, and that many others are now considering ordinances that would limit or ban smoking.

"These severe restrictions are eminently justified," the professor states. "Smoking is a deadly habit, for smokers and nonsmokers alike. Twenty million Americans suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (bronchitis and emphysema), which is related to smoking. This disease is the nation's fourth-leading cause of death."

Dr. Rueter says all evidence suggests that smoking bans don't adversely affect business at bars and restaurants. He cites "a study by the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California-San Francisco compared sales tax receipts in cities with and without smoke-free ordinances -- and found no difference. Smoking-ban opponents also assert that private business owners should have the right to run their own businesses. This ignores the fact that private property rights are not inalienable. For example, minimum wage regulations are mandatory, not voluntary. Health and safety regulations are mandatory, not voluntary. Protecting consumers and workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke is a legitimate governmental activity. Similarly, opponents of smoking bans contend that smokers have the 'right' to smoke. Scott Schneider, a Republican member of the Indianapolis City Council, said of Indy's proposed anti-smoking ordinance, 'It's an affront to freedom.' What this perspective ignores is that the freedom of smokers to puff cigarette smoke ends at my nose. The right of nonsmokers to breathe clean air clearly outweighs the 'right' of smokers to pollute the air."

Published in Bloomington Herald-Times, February 25, 2005