The Linear Canvas

I’ve seen recent stories and letters to the editor about Toledo’s no smoking law. The ones that gave me the most pause were two in particular. Right after the ban was announced, a bar owner complained in a front page story that yes, maybe, more non-smokers would start coming to her bar, but that non-smokers would leave by midnight and only smokers would stay until the bar closes. She claimed that that was a big part of her business that would be lost. Just a few days ago in a letter to the editor, a bar customer, said that now that he couldn’t smoke in a Toledo bar, he and his friends would start frequenting bars in surrounding communities more often that allowed smoking.

Maybe I am the only one that thinks this, but I would say that if less people stayed out drinking until 2:30 AM and didn’t drive home drunker than they would’ve been at midnight, I’d say that is better, not worse. If bar patrons start driving further to drink, more people will be driving impaired longer distances. That’s probably something I would not announce to the police in the newspaper. I would not be surprised if Toledo police start setting up checkpoints leading in from these suburban communities.

The truth about bars is that most people who leave one is probably incapable of passing a breath analyzer test. Now, bar patrons say they will be leaving the city and driving further, subject themselves to more chances to get pulled over by police, and drive more miles impaired, just so they can smoke a product that is killing them.

One bar I drive past, has a message on its outside sign that suggests the affected bar patrons register to vote to overturn the non-smoking law. Clearly, that is the one good suggestion that has come out of this whole thing. As a non-smoker and occasional beer drinker, I welcome all bar patrons to join the roles of those of us non-smokers that actually vote.