Groups rally against extended smoking ban in Dallas [View All]

[WriteDown]

Source: Dallas Morning News

A coalition of tavern industry, limited government and smokers' rights advocates say they'll battle efforts under way by Dallas politicians and health organizations to expand the city's public smoking ban to bars and pool halls.

"It's a small group of people trying to have their utopia at our expense," said John Barton, manager of tobacco shop Up In Smoke, during a rally Tuesday at Dallas' Havana Social Club cigar and rum bar. "We're going to meet this head-on. What's happening here – this is socialism. This is communism."

Kathy Grant, a spokeswoman for the Amusement & Music Operators of Texas, called on the Dallas City Council to protect smokers' right to puff freely in "adult venues without children present."

Two other organizations – the Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Greater Dallas Bar & Tavern Coalition – also went on record opposing an expanded Dallas smoking ban, which today includes most public workplaces and restaurants.



Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/080608dnmetsmokingban.3e43ecf.html

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