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Smokers should only go where they are welcome

March 22, 2005

Dear Editor:

I must admit I was a little upset when I read about the Boyle County Health Department director trying to ban smoking.

Let me say up front that I am in the minority these days because I am a smoker. It should be up to each owner to decide if they will welcome smokers or not. There are restaurants now that are non-smoking, and they were not forced to make that decision. It was their choice.

I live in Harrodsburg, and my favorite place to eat is McDonald's. Our local McDonald's went non-smoking on Jan. 1. That rule told me they no longer wanted this smoker's business. What do I do now when I get a craving for a Big Mac? I drive to Danville to the McDonald's in front of Big Lots because they welcome smokers. I'm sure that one person not eating at a local restaurant won't break them. What if more smokers stood up for their rights and let their opinions be known by spending their money only at establishments that welcome them?

That is one of the problems with today's society. We don't take a stand on what we believe in. How many people complained about not wanting alcohol sales in Danville? How many of those people now patronize those restaurants? What is that saying to those owners?

So, smokers, if you feel strongly about the non-smoking ban you have a choice don't patronize facilities that don't welcome you. Hey, one day we will all be eating our meals at home because we won't be welcome anywhere else. That may not be a bad thing! Then people can stop blaming others for their health problems or weight issues due to eating the wrong foods. They won't be breathing second-hand smoke, and they won't have to worry about passing an intoxicated driver on the way to or from dinner.

Until the choice is made for us smokers. I will continue to patronize only those establishments that welcome me and my second-hand smoke.

Dana Guay

Harrodsburg

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