Arkansas's Clean Indoor Air Act

Paper - Smoking in Public Places

July 23, 2006

Arkansas Code 20-27-1801, also known as The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006, became effective July 21, 2006. This new law now makes smoking in most public places a crime. This bill was first presented in the Arkansas State Senate as a tool to fight the harmful effects of second hand smoke experienced by non-smokers. According to www.arkansas.gov, second hand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, asthma, and low birth weight babies. Our state legislature contends that breathing second hand smoke is a major cause of preventable disease and death, and is an infringement on the rights of non smokers in our state.

In my opinion, this law is too extreme. I feel our legislature should be able to prohibit smoking in courthouses, government buildings, public schools, and hospitals. However, to blanket every single restaurant and workplace in our state with this law is wrong. I strongly feel the decision to go smoke-free or not should be made by the owner or proprietor of the business. There were numerous restaurants in the state that did not allow smoking before this law was enacted. And there were numerous restaurants that did allow it. Those that did allow it were often frequented by customers who chose that restaurant because they knew they could smoke. And vice-versa. Many restaurant owners are irate that the government has come in and made this business decision for them. And many have decided to now only allow customers aged 21 and over to enter, as this is an exemption to the law, and they can continue to legally allow smoking. I personally think of this issue in the same way I think of rated Ð''R' movies, foul-mouthed television actors, and even abortion. There are people out there who think all of these things are horrible and should be illegal. I say if you don't like it,