Smoking may be an even greater evil than the accordion, but the decision
to light up remains legal and personal. Most smokers understand animosity
toward second-hand fumes and will graciously move away from the smoke-vexed
when asked. Smoker-friendly establishments have been the choice of those
wanting to enjoy the vice without infringing on objectors.

Now a new California law will eliminate the possibility of smoking in any
tavern. Even someone hostile to tobacco should fear when our Big Brother
government tells business owners that a legal action, even with 100 percent
consent of all persons present, is unlawful in their privately owned bars
or clubs.

Little dissent has been raised over this challenge to our Constitution, as
cigarette smokers are an unpopular minority engaging in an unhealthful act.
But beware such dictatorial denials of rights, for they push us toward a
slippery slope.

The same government that disallows unhealthy air in a private business
could conceivably prohibit any act disliked by a majority. Such a precedent
could be used to justify a state's banning of legal, harmless yet
majority-disfavored behavior - perhaps even same-sex kissing - in all
private clubs regardless of the wishes of the clientele.

Rather than a meddlesome state mandate, business owners should decide
individually whether smoking should be permitted in their bars and clubs;
then consumers and prospective employees will retain the right to choose
their preference.

If smoke-free bars are overwhelmingly embraced, then they will drive the
smoking bars out of business. Let's work together to repeal this law.

Susan Winchester
San Francisco, CA