Editorial: Statewide smoking ban would protect choice

Publication Date: 2007-11-20

• Author:Editorial
• Publication:USD Volante Online, SD

Last week was the 31st annual Great American Smokeout. After more than three decades of smoke outs, we believe the time has come for South Dakota to pass a ban on smoking in public places and businesses.

When the issue of any sort of ban on smoking comes up, smokers often talk about their right to choose to smoke.

While we agree that they generally have the right to smoke, we also feel everyone has the right to not be exposed to that smoke. As long as people are allowed to smoke in places like restaurants and bars, people who do not want to breathe cigarette smoke are losing their freedom to make that choice for themselves.

There is overwhelming research that shows cigarette smoke, including secondhand smoke, is bad for people's health. In theory, people who do not wish to breathe cigarette smoke can simply choose to not smoke. Unfortunately, that theory does not work in the real world...

In order to protect both employees and patrons in these situations, a statewide ban on smoking in facilities like restaurants needs to be passed by the legislature this session. To not pass a ban amounts to a failure to protect basic health needs of all South Dakotans.