New Yorkers: is this true?

[Boris Godunov]

While it achieves an end I find desirable, the means are very objectionable and, frankly, quite fascist. Let business owners decide if they want a legal activity like smoking in their premises, and let employees decided if they want to work in such a place or not.

It makes as much sense banning smoking in bars as it does banning drinking in them.

[Arrian]

Boris.

Or, for a more in-between option, why not have specially permitted smoking bars?

-Arrian

[Boris Godunov]

Or just make a cash cow for the city out of requiring a smoking license, just as one needs a liquor license. Plenty of bars will buy them, generating revenue, and many won't, to keep non-smoking customers. Seems to be a reasonable compromise.

[Arrian]

Exactly what I meant, actually.

-Arrian

[Agathon]

If the officials in NY are this bad, surely it would be better to hand everything over to the Mafia - after all they have years of experience in "public service".

[HershOstropoler]

Why would the government make it illegal for bartenders to give out drinks?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
Why would the government make it illegal for bartenders to give out drinks?

I suspect some misapplied theory that buybacks deprive the city of its proper tax revenue, and that they encourage public intoxication.

IMO, it would be akin to telling a prostitute in Nevada she is forbidden from having free sex with someone because it would be denying the state its tax revenue on her porking a john.