When it comes to health, there is no choice

Publication Date: 2005-06-06

• Author:Angela Bradbery
• Publication:Washington Examiner

Choice. It sounds so reasonable.

But in the current debate over smoke-free workplace legislation, Council Member Carol Schwartz's proposal - to allow bars and restaurants to choose whether to allow smoking - makes for bad public policy. It would fail to adequately protect the health of employees and customers. It would also be nightmarish to enforce and would cost the city a bundle.

Secondhand smoke is toxic. It has 4,000 chemicals, 69 of which are known or probable carcinogens - things like benzene and arsenic. If I were to spritz arsenic through a restaurant, I'd be arrested for endangering the public health. Yet we've come to accept it when the arsenic comes out of a cigarette.