Which Way the Wind Blows
As the Oklahoma smoking ban has shifted into high gear we have been following news media reports from across the state to learn ‘what the locals are saying’. Throughout these reports over the course of the past few weeks comments from restaurant operators have fallen into three generalized categories.
Some are happy with the smoking ban in that it provides them the excuse to go non-smoking, a move they have wanted to make for some time but were afraid to make individually.
Others have paid the price to provide accommodations for their smoking customers and we salute them and will patronize such businesses in our area and encourage our fellow smokers to do likewise.
The third group is that which is taking the ‘which way the wind blows’ approach, waiting to see how the smoking ban will affect their individual business. With the smoking ban now in effect they are watching closely to determine how their smoking customers react. If they still patronize the business odds are it will remain non-smoking. If smokers abandon the business they will likely make the minimal investment necessary to provide a smoking section. The great unknown is whether non-smokers will fill any void created by smokers abandoning the now ’smoke free’ restaurant.
While smokers have no control or even any infuence in the actions of non-smokers patronizing these establishments, they most assuredly do have the ability to refrain from patronizing any business which has thus far refused to provide accomodations for smokers. Smokers have both a right and a duty to make their views known to business operators. If smokers refuse to act, make their voices heard and simply fade into the woodwork, they have no one to blame but themselves.