What is the Smoking Ban in the State of Washington Really IS About?

Letter to the Editor

2/7/04

Years ago the Government made alcohol illegal----what a Big Mistake! That law was reversed. Ever since then different states have been making changes and restriction against the use of alcohol.

These changes have been small, not wanting to upset the balance. The public does get angry at first, then that anger changes to acceptance, and all is quiet again. The law makers count on this acceptance. Ever so slowly and subtly, more and more propaganda comes from the media building a case to tighten restrictions.

I assure you Washington State wants to get rid of as many taverns as possible. The difference between a tavern and a bar, other than the obvious, is a tavern can sell kegs and beer to go, bars can’t. Think of the “kegger parties” that will be no more! !

Example: Many of the small communities will no longer issue a “new liquor license” to anyone wanting to buy a tavern. As a result, if current tavern owner wants to retire, he loses everything he has invested in it. The government gains more control.

Example: This state came out with a “Class H” license, trying to entice taverns to make that change. For that, you had to have a kitchen and that took money. The owners that had the money and room made the change, it did help their bottom line. However, for this state, not enough taverns made that change. New laws were made, now all you need is to have a cook on hand 5 hrs. a day and 5 different things for them to cook---that’s it. That change was easier, and in order to compete many did. The government gains more control.

Example: In parts of Seattle, stores can no longer sell liquor with the higher alcohol content after a certain time in the evening, under the smoke screen of “too many drunks in doorways.” This will only drive them to another part of town, where I assure the same restrictions will be imposed there too.

The government gains more control.

Example: In a part of Tacoma, there is a block that has 1 sports bar and 1 tavern, the sidewalks are overly wide. The city has been asked to do what they’ve done in other areas. The sidewalks were cut back making room for head in parking. The city won’t do that, but they will widen the sidewalk, and plant trees, taking away all of the parking. How long can any of those business continue with no place for customers to park. The government gains more control.

How many other ways can the government find to put bars and taverns out of business?

Blood alcohol levels for DWI’s is the only tool left for adding restrictions, under the smoke screen that there are too many accidents. I agree that it is beyond sorrow for those that are killed by a drunk driver. Have the numbers really changed? If you go back 20 years to what the population was then, and what it is today, have the percentages changed, have the number of accidents changed. The government does not want us to know.

Different states are going about these changes in different ways. You know they are watching each other. The 22nd of January 2004, I saw on NW News Channel where the State of Oregon is trying to pass a bill, forcing a bar to closer early once there were 3 complaints in a month against them---just think of where that could go, an unhappy drunk, a competitor down the street?

Since the government is out of ways to limit alcohol, why not start on smoking. Smokers go to bars, and if they can’t smoke in them, how many will go under? Now it’s 2 for the price of 1, smoking and alcohol. Right now there are many taverns in this state that are seriously close to going out of business, the smoking ban will be the final straw. The government gains more control.

It’s not only bars and taverns that are affected, bingo halls, bowling alleys, and casinos, will be hurt by this ban, UNLESS THEY ARE ON A TRIBAL LAND, where the government has NO CONTROL.

It is time to band together, and stop letting the government take away our rights for choice.

Sherry Keyes, Kent WA

ksherry4@msn.com