Yesterday I attended a Dallas City Council meeting to help support a proposed city-wide smoking ban - expanding it to include bars. The place I work (American Heart Association) has worked hard for this ordinance and many like it across the country. It was a fascinating experience. Those of us in support wore red t-shirts and packed the chambers. The opposing side wore yellow and seemed to be primarily made up of people who own or work in bars. Their concern was that they would lose business to the suburbs. It's an argument that was made when Dallas banned smoking in restaurants, and it didn't hold up then, and it doesn't now. I know many feel this is a personal freedom issue, but this is one instance where public health should prevail. No one is telling smokers they can't smoke, they just have to go outside. There were several people there concerned about losing their bar jobs, stating that this was the only job they could get. Bottom line: no one should have to choose between their health and their paycheck.
At one point the mayor asked that any citizen who wanted to go on the record was welcome to come forward and give their name and a short statement. I jumped up, remembering all the studies showing that when you ban public smoking, the incidence of heart attacks drops in the community. I implored the council to do the right thing - today they had an opportunity not many of us get, to make a real difference and save real lives in Dallas.
They did the right thing and it passed. Come April (when it goes into effect), this non-smoker will gladly organize a celebratory happy hour and not come home smelling like an ashtray.
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