Sunday, March 15 2009
By Michael Aubele,
PittsburghLive.com (Valley News Dispatch)
Six months into the smoking ban, Alle-Kiski Valley bar and restaurant owners offered a unified message to state leaders: "Stay out of our business."
Interviews with more than half-a-dozen Alle-Kiski Valley business owners and managers affected by the state's Clean Indoor Air Act revealed that each -- even if positively impacted by it -- thinks it's too much government intrusion.
The ban prohibits smoking in most bars, restaurants, workplaces, schools and government buildings. Pennsylvania joined 24 other states that restrict smoking in public places, according to the state's Department of Health.
While their personal views about smoking and how they choose to run their businesses vary, each of the local business owners said the decision to prohibit patrons from lighting up should be left solely to the proprietor.
Valley business owners feel smoking should be their call continues...
