Module 5 Case: Smoking in New York's Bars and Restaurants

Module 5 Case: Smoking in New York’s Bars and Restaurants

ETH 301

Let me first start off by saying, if you don’t like beer and cigarettes then stay out of bars. This has been the way it’s been for centuries. I feel that yes, smoking should be banned everywhere else but bars. If you don’t like that atmosphere then stay away from it. I feel smoking in bars is a very acceptable place to do so. I’m not even a smoker and I agree with that. If you don’t like booze/beer and smoke, stay out of bars.

With that being said, workplaces nationwide are going smokefree both as states and local communities pass laws prohibiting smoking in workplaces and businesses do so voluntarily to protect employees and the general public from the proven harmful effects of secondhand smoke. While doing some research on Wikipedia I found out that currently, a smoking ban (either state, county, or local) has been enacted covering all bars and restaurants in each of the 60 most populated cities in the United States except these 16: Arlington, Texas, Atlanta, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Memphis, Miami, Las Vegas, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Tampa, Tulsa, and Virginia Beach. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have passed laws prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars; a dramatic increase from just seven years ago when only two states had such laws. With the nation enacting so many laws to stop smoking in public places, there has to be some kind of reason why. I will explain to you some of the reasons with statistics on the dangers of smoking in public places. Some I agree with, some I do not. Do I disagree with smoking in public places? Yes, except bars with no restaurants or bar’s that have restaurants but are closed off from the bar. I will explain why I feel these laws are needed in some cases and not in others.

While reading an article in American...