Smoking Laws in NY and NJ

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

They're very different. One rule denies people the opportunity to eat food anywhere. The other denies people the opportunity to smoke IN CERTAIN PLACES. I don't see what's so hard to understand here. One is an all out ban, the other simply designates areas as off-limits.

I'm not talking about an all-out ban, Schneed. I never said anything about a ban on all fried, fatty, unhealthy foods EVERYWHERE. I'm talking restaurants only. In this scenario, I'm assuming that you can eat whatever you want if you go elsewhere, or decide to eat at home -- just like you can with smoking -- if you don't like it, you can stay home and eat or find another restaurant.

If the government can ban smoking in restaurants to protect the health of the patrons, why can't they do the same with the food that restaurant serves?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

I'm not talking about an all-out ban, Schneed. I never said anything about a ban on all fried, fatty, unhealthy foods EVERYWHERE. I'm talking restaurants only. In this scenario, I'm assuming that you can eat whatever you want if you go elsewhere, or decide to eat at home -- just like you can with smoking -- if you don't like it, you can stay home and eat or find another restaurant.

If the government can ban smoking in restaurants to protect the health of the patrons, why can't they do the same with the food that restaurant serves?

OK fine, but there's still a difference. Restaurants offer choices, you can choose to order something fatty or you can choose to order something healthy. If I want to order something healthy, whether or not the guy sitting behind me is eating fried chicken has absolutely NO IMPACT on my health. Some restaurants only serve fatty foods, such as KFC. But if I want to be healthy, I'm not forced to go to KFC to eat. I have OPTIONS, I can go to Subway.

However, if I want to find a bar to meet a girl in (I'm married, so this is just hypothetical) I'll have to put up with somebody else's unhealthy habit. I have NO CHOICE. I could opt to stay home, but I ask you what's easier: ask those who don't like smoke to stay home, or simply ask those who smoke to step outside and return when finished?