Tobacco Documents Online

At /'. + •~ . EXECUTIVE OFFICES 121 Pine Street Harrisburg, Penna. 17101 C Drawer T, Federal Square Station Harrisburg, Penna. 17108 Telephone 717-232-8671 STATEMENT OF THE PENNSYLUANIA TAUERN ASSOCIATION WITH RESPECT TO SMOKING ORDINANCES AND LAWS. The Pennsylvania Tavern Association opposes the enactment of laws and ordinances which would prohibit smoking in the facilities operated by our members, or compel the establishment of no smoking areas and facilities operated by our members, for the following reasons: We believe that experimentation in legislating social habits is an undesirable governmental action which limits all licensed retailers in their rights to conduct their own businesses. We believe that government-imposed restrictions on smoking in the social atmosphere in the facilities operated by licensees would be unforceable in the attempts to enforce them would invite disorder and economic sactions which the tavern owner and or his employee shauld not have to bear. The establishment of areas where smoking is prohibited may be feasible and desirable in some of the establishments, but the decisions to establish such areas in any particular tavern must be left to the tavern owner whose patronage, after all, depends upon his meeting the needs of his guests. We believe that our patrons are occasionally exposed to annoyances of many kinds, including those resulting from the personal character and traits of other patrons. However, the government does not and should not attempt to abridge individual freedoms in each of these instances, for if it did, there would be virtually no end to the possible legislative restrictions that would abound. ~- ------ _ _

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