Nice work, Big Tobacco! The scam that is Issue 4 is nothing short of genius.
Issue 4 markets itself as a Common Sense smoking ban. The true brilliance lies in the exemption for restaurants whose sales in alcohol account for more than 40 percent of their receipts. All a restaurant would have to do is say they sell that much alcohol and they would be allowed to have smoking. The only thing that could challenge them is a government audit that has a zero percent chance of taking place. Thus, making smoking ban enforcement impossible. Brilliant!
Issue 4 is supported and funded by Smoke Less Ohio
which consists of R.J. Reynolds, Cigar Association of America, Lorillard Tobacco Company, National Association of Tobacco Outlets and the Retail Tobacco Dealers Association. Get it? These tobacco companies want you to smoke less.
The pro-Issue 4 commercial proclaims that Issue 4 would ban smoking in places like government offices libraries hospitals and day-care centers while exempting bars and restaurants. Great! Now we won't be overwhelmed by secondhand smoke in the public library or watch cigarette smoke billow out of area hospitals! I guess banning smoking in places where it is already banned is just good common sense.
If voters pass Issue 4 on Nov. 7, get ready for some smoke-filled rooms, Athens.
- Adam Gibbs writes from Upper Arlington.
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