ACT NOW TO AVOID A BAN ON SMOKING IN
CHICAGO BARS AND RESTAURANTS

July 2005 -- Chicago is again considering passing a law outlawing smoking in all indoor areas, including all restaurants and all bars.
Smoking will also be forbidden outdoors within 25 feet of any indoor area.

Even if you are a non-smoker this law will hurt you.
Non-smoking laws have been demonstrated to hurt the
economy of a city overall and lead to loss of income for beverage service personnel and other retail workers.

There are many other ways to provide a comfortable environment for non-smokers without taking away people’s personal freedoms, including no-smoking sections and the latest in air cleaning technology that many bars and restaurants are installing now.

These reasonable compromises are rejected by the anti-smoking activists proposing the new ordinance. Their goal is to force people not to smoke, no matter what smoker’s personal choice might be.

If you, your relatives and friends work in bars, restaurants, hotels or any business that depend on out-of-town visitors this ban will hit them right in the wallet, leading to loss of income and possibly employment.

This law is one more example of the government taking over our personal lives and eliminating personal freedom. Non-smokers take note: Today the government outlaws smoking, tomorrow they may come after a personal freedom that is important to you! Almost any restriction can be justified in the name of public “safety.”

The city will not respond unless they hear from many concerned citizens. Right now only the voices in favor of outlawing smoking are being heard.

If the City Council passes this ordinance, you can be sure that no-smoking laws will spread quickly to the suburbs. Arlington Heights and Oak Park are just two examples of the many cities that are waiting for Chicago to outlaw smoking so they can pass laws to make bars and restaurants in their cities 100% non-smoking.

It is vital that people who oppose these bans immediately write to their elected officials to protest and register their opposition to this law.

If people do not act, all Chicago restaurants, bars, all other indoor areas and even outdoor areas near buildings will be non-smoking by law very soon.