Letter: No-Smoking Laws
(Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Sun-Sentinel (Jul 30, 2001)
by Bev Kaufman / Fort Lauderdale
I lost the love of my life to throat cancer, brought on by 40 years of smoking up to four packs a day. So yes, I hate the tobacco companies that sold him the poison.

But I hate tyranny more, even the "benevolent" kind that tries to smother us with protections. I am opposed to tinkering with the state Constitution just to force smokers out of the restaurants. We have a free enterprise system that serves the needs of the non-smokers well enough. If you walk into a restaurant that stinks of tobacco or if the hostess tries to seat you 10 feet away from a fuming ashtray because the table's technically in the non-smoking area, you tell her that the stench has destroyed your appetite, and you walk out.