Boone Liberty Coalition

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Contact:
     John Dupuy
     Boone Liberty Coalition
     10900 S Hardwick Ln
     Columbia, MO 65201
     Phone: (573) 777-1950
     E-Mail: info@booneliberty.org
     Website: http://booneliberty.org

     Smoking ordinance change unnecessary - The free market is working

     Columbia, MO -- February 11, 2006 -- Recent newspaper articles indicate
     that the Board of Health continues its push for an expanded smoking
     ban in Columbia.  The Boone Liberty Coalition remains opposed to this
     anti-choice smoking law.

     The free market is working well in Columbia and will continue to do so as
     customers voluntarily choose restaurants that are smoke-free (or permit
     smoking, for those who wish to smoke with their meal).  In November of
     2004, a survey by the Boone County Coalition for Tobacco Concerns found
     that over 100 restaurants in Columbia were completely smoke free and the
     number has only increased since then.  Several Columbia restaurants have
     gone smoke-free in the past few months, such as Sophia's, Flat Branch,
     CJ's, and Steak 'n Shake.  Customers who wish to enjoy a smoke-free
     environment will continue to choose non-smoking restaurants, and this in
     turn will increase the number of restaurants that eliminate smoking.  The
     Boone Liberty Coalition estimates that approximately half of the eating
     establishments in Columbia are already smoke-free voluntarily.
     
     This anti-choice smoking law will remove the business decision from those
     who know their customers best - the private business owners.  Some
     restaurants will ban smoking as a good business decision, offering an
     environment that many customers will prefer.  Other restaurants will
     continue to allow smoking, offering a niche market for those customers who
     want the option of smoking during their meal.
     
     Additionally, these increased regulations will skew the restaurant market
     by favoring those businesses with outdoor seating.  Government must not
     play favorites and impact one business more than another.
     
     The newest refrain of the anti-choice brigade is that this is now a
     workplace safety issue.  While the Boone Liberty Coalition believes
     that second-hand smoke has some risks, it is a work-related risk that
     each employee chooses to take or not.  Workers commonly choose jobs
     with work-related risks, such as driving in a pizza delivery job.
     Driving is also a risky behavior.  In Columbia, the demand for restaurant
     workers is fierce and turnover is high.  A potential employee with a
     good work ethic has their pick of workplaces.  It's their choice.
     
     Boone Liberty Coalition spokesman John Dupuy adds "It's true that the
     national trend is to take away our civil liberties in the name of safety,
     but I'm hoping that Columbia will choose tolerance and freedom instead."

     Contact:
     John Dupuy
     Boone Liberty Coalition
     10900 S Hardwick Ln
     Columbia, MO 65201
     Phone: (573) 777-1950
     E-Mail: info@booneliberty.org
     Website: http://booneliberty.org

     The Boone Liberty Coalition is an advocate for personal liberty,
     economic freedom and property rights in Boone County Missouri.

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