Indiana

When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Make a Choice

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Smoke Free Indy, an organization dedicated to banning all smoking in Indianapolis, held an open house downtown Thursday a smoke free restaurant to extol the virtues of smoke-free work environment and to stress the point that employees should not have to choose between clean air and their job.

I would argue that by holding an open house in a smoke free place Smoke Free Indy undermines its own argument.  Right now a business in Indianapolis has a choice to go smoking or non-smoking.  If it decides to go smoking it cannot allow anyone in their establishment under the age of 18.  In addition, anyone who wants to exercise their right to work in a smoke free environment can.  And anyone who wants to patronize a smoke-free drinking establishment can.  

By holding an event in a smoke-free environment, Smoke Free Indy has demonstrated the power of choice. They have patronized an establishment that chose to go smoke free, the tipped servers who exercised their right to breathe smoke free air and chose to work in smoke free workplace and they dined with other customers who chose to eat in a place that did not allow smoking.

The free market is working because businesses, workers and customers are making choices and exercising their rights.  It would be one thing if there was no compromise in place, but there is.  And it is working. Smoke Free Indy knows it.  And now so do you.  So whether you’re a business owner, server or patron go out and enjoy your evening in either a smoking or non-smoking environment.  

It’s your choice.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on January 30, 2009 (boomark / email).