PROTECTING SMOKERS HEALTH
Danto and others believe legislation is needed to even the playing field and to protect the health of all employees and patrons of restaurants and bars.
“We don’t ask restaurants to voluntarily practice safe food-handling practices. These are legislated. Everyone is required to follow the same laws to insure that employees and customers are working and being served in a safe environment,” said Danto. “So if we know that smoking is harmful to your health and causes numerous illnesses and diseases, then why are we allowing this in the workplace, exposing employees and others to these harmful effects?”
The answers are complicated, which is the reason why several previous attempts to ban smoking in public places, particulary in the workplace, have stalled in Michigan.
Mike Nolan has operated Nolan’s Tobacconist for 30 years in Traverse City. He is president of the association that represents 38 cigar shops in Michigan and is frustrated on two counts, “the unwillingness of compromise” by groups who oppose smoking, and “taxes.”
“I’m not sure what is worse, the proposed ban or the taxes I pay that puts me at a competitive disadvantage with shops in other states who are not subject to these taxes and are able to ship cigars into Michigan directly to the consumer and avoid the taxes,” said Nolan. “As for the ban, the opposition is unwilling to support any compromises, including allowing establishments to install technologies that clean the air, such as what Turtle Creek Casino has in their new facility.”
