Smoke Screen

The Georgia Legislature passed the "Smoking Ban Bill" last night. Apparently, they want to protect children who go to restaurants with their parents from second hand smoke. I talked to a guy who used to work at Brown & Williamson, which is leaving Macon and relocating to Winston-Salem; he was concerned about the economic impact of people not being allowed to smoke in public places. Oddly, no one I talked to mentioned the health risks associated with smoking or how state health costs could be reduced. The people I spoke to were mostly concerned with their individual rights. I also talked to a restaurant manager who said it wouldn't affect her business... But she did speculate if all restaurants were going to enforce the ruling.