By LANCE BINONIEMI
Tue, May 13 2008 The Record-Eagle editorial "Restaurant Smoking Ban a Matter of Public Health" (Feb. 12), erroneously characterized the issue by narrowly focusing on politics, while ignoring the fact that bars and restaurants are already going smoke-free without harmful government mandates. "Choice" is the answer, not the newspaper's summation: "cash." The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association represents 2,500 hard-working small business owners in the hospitality industry. The Record-Eagle was wrong to wryly state that bar and restaurant owners are not opinion leaders. They benefit Michigan by providing thousands of food-service careers, and millions in both payroll dollars and business taxes. Hospitality businesses help form the foundation of the tourism industry, a vital part of the Traverse City area economy. These job providers face a litany of challenges brought by state regulation and taxes. An unnecessary and intrusive state-sanctioned smoking ban would, in fact, economically devastate many of these establishments, and force many layoffs. MLBA members compete with American Indian-owned and commercially-operated casinos, bingo halls and racetracks. Each of these businesses have built-in competitive advantages over "mom and pop," including tremendous resources, cheaper food and drinks, and an exemption from any state-sanctioned smoking ban. The inherent double-standard in proposed anti-smoking legislation is another big reason why a ban is bad public policy. Unfortunately, these legitimate issues are rarely considered by those with a predisposed position on smoking policy. The Record-Eagle's editorial is case in point: politics over practicality. This lack of context leaves your objective readers without a reasonable way to distinguish emotion from fact. Michigan Citizens for SmokeFree Air tracks smoke-free bars and restaurants by location. The Traverse City area has at least 175 smoke-free establishments, while 4,500 others have decided to go smoke-free statewide. This is proof positive that the public and business owners are addressing the issue without anyone in Lansing dictating how they live, recreate, or spend their money. Just like customers, food-service employees have options if they choose not to work around smoke. The Record-Eagle's incendiary suggestion that "big tobacco" and "cash" have "hog-tied" employees into choking to death is baseless and uninformed, as major tobacco companies have largely kept their distance from this issue. The Record-Eagle editorial advocates a course of action that will steer us down an alarming and very slippery slope. What's the next government-issued mandate business owners, employees and the public will have to endure? Freedom of choice is the answer to this debate. Bar and restaurant owners and their patrons have a right to smoke because it's a legal product and activity. Elected officials like Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, should be applauded, not reprimanded on the opinion pages. Michigan suffers from the worst unemployment rate in the nation and a stagnant economy. We can ill-afford putting the regulatory screws to the hospitality industry. Mandating a smoking ban in bars and restaurants is unnecessary because the marketplace is responding to the public's demand for smoke-free establishments. About the author: Lance Binoniemi is Government Affairs Director for the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association in Lansing. About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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