Don't bend Florida's no-smoking ban for bar

Publication Date: 2005-04-15

• Author:Dick Mahaffey
• Publication:Gainesville (FL) Sun

As a volunteer of the American Lung Association of Florida, I am compelled to write a response to the article (April 5), "The day in Tallahassee," which appeared on The Sun's Web site.

Florida voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment in 2002 outlawing smoking in most workplaces - which includes all restaurants, even those that are "famous" or "listed in the National Register of Historic Places."

Sloppy Joe's is misrepresenting itself to the citizens of Florida and the Legislature by calling itself a bar and not a restaurant. This "bar" boasts a seven-page food menu, including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, sides and desserts.