All people have the right to choose whether they want to smoke tobacco. I support bans on smoking in enclosed "common areas" that are a necessity for people or where children would be present, i.e.; Laundromats, libraries, government offices, business offices, restaurants that cater to children, and all non-smoke related stores. I have a problem with bans in open areas, smoke shops, bars, and adult restaurants (that are "Smoking Designated" or provide a well ventilated smoking section). Luxury places are not a necessity and the market will determine if they are smoke-free or not.

For example, when Baytown and Houston instituted their smoking bans and made them include bars, a major drop in business was the effect. It put several bars and night clubs smooth out if business, suggesting that non-smokers are not the main customers at these establishments. A better solution was to allow luxury businesses to decide by their clientèle whether to go non-smoking or not. If enough customers at an establishment are demanding a no smoking environment, the owner is a damn fool to allow it. The consequences of his business decision will either gain, keep, or lose clientèle, a true "supply and demand" scenario, which is the way of a free market.

By instituting an "all inclusive" ban, the government has precluded the free choice of Americans to choose for themselves, a flagrant disregard for individual freedom. The excessive taxation is an unduly totalitarian influence to moderate behavior, and saying that the taxes collected go to a good cause is a typical "doing bad for good reasons" excuse. Not only is it an extremely dangerous precedent for justifying all manner of government regulation, but seeing the reports on how little of the money collected actually goes to their "justification" shows that it is a ridiculous ploy used to defend acts of governmental tyranny. Simply put, it's a bribe to get Americans to go along with their unconstitutional actions.

The "smoke eaters" they used in the 80's and 90's worked extremely well, I worked and frequented many bars and restaurants that had them and never smelled anyone's smoke. If you are going to dictate that a business has to worry more about the health of its clientèle than the actual customers do, then go back to requiring the use of these devices instead of violating freedom by dictating what is and is not an allowable action, especially when that action is not illegal.