Cigarettes have been proven to kill. They kill the smoker, his/her spouse, their children, and their pets. Smokers smell bad, cough a lot, and foul the air. Smokers are the scourge of the information age.

That said, the Columbia City Council should not bend in the wind of regulation of smoking in public places. Several advocacy groups are lobbying the City of Columbia to force restaurants and bars to prohibit smoking. These well–meaning people are trying to get government to stop a public nuisance. Aside from being another regulation on private business, such an ordinance is not necessary.

The market place can control itself more effectively and more efficiently than government can. Restaurants and bars with wise owners and managers are already controlling smoking. Some have set up special rooms for smokers, some have installed powerful fans to remove the smoke, and the smartest ones have become completely smoke–free.

The old complaint, “I will lose customers if I forbid smoking,” has already lost credence as more and more people realize food is better without smoke. With more smoke–free restaurants, the smoke–full ones stand out even more. Quite literally, when you open the door of a smoking establishment, it slams you in the face. And you leave.

Times have changed. Smokers are now in the minority due to public education and the rising death rate for smokers. As soon as the first cancer victim sues a bar and wins a huge settlement, all bars will prohibit smoking. It will be apparent that smoking not only kills the smoker, it kills the business.

Columbia City Council should keep their once nicotine–stained hands off businesses. The market place will regulate itself. It always does once government gets out of the way.