Where there's smoke
CMAJ 1999;160:1287
Since the attempt to outlaw smoking in Toronto restaurants and bars was largely unsuccessful, here's a proposal that will not only discourage smoking but will also add to the public coffers. On a set date, all eating and drinking establishments should be forced to declare themselves either smoking or nonsmoking. Patrons of the smoking establishments would then have a 15% "smokers' tax" added to their bill.
This proposal has a very good chance of being accepted since more than two-thirds of Canadians are nonsmokers and do not really appreciate an expensive meal being ruined by secondhand smoke drifting over from the smoking section. Also, this proposal capitalizes on a very strong societal force: peer pressure. Can you imagine a group going out to dinner and not only eating in a smoke-filled room but also having to pay a 15% surtax for the privilege?
We've failed to stem the smoking tide through warning labels and anti-smoking ads. Since we have not been able to change how much people smoke, let's try to achieve the same goal by reducing the number of places where they can smoke.
Bob Bryant
Welland, Ont.
bryant@niagara.com
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