Tobacco.org

EDITORIAL: A safer state 

Clearly, the cradle of mass cigarette manufacturing has turned over a new leaf. North Carolina's legislated ban on smoking in bars and restaurants takes effect today (having allowed one last smoke-filled holiday), and as of yesterday, all cigarettes made or sold here must be of the "fire-safe" variety. . . .

Profitable and important, but not healthy or safe. That's the bottom line that persuaded a majority of legislators to enact the smoking ban and the fire-safe requirement. Even allowing for a smoker's right to choose his or her own poison, the case for restrictions in public settings is strong. Research has convincingly shown that secondhand smoke, which restaurant and bar patrons and employees breathe in when smoking is allowed, is a health hazard. And, to state the obvious, fires caused by discarded or unattended cigarettes do harm to smokers and nonsmokers alike.

So the issue is public health and safety, and those concerns outweigh owners' rights to run their businesses solely as they see fit.

Yes, the 20 percent or so of adults who smoke are indeed in for a change. But everyone will be better off for it.

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