By this time next week, all of Eugene’s bars and taverns and most of the city’s businesses are expected to be completely smoke free, as all cigarette smokers will likely have moved to city sidewalks and be huddled together in a fraternity of exiled tobacco users.
The much-heralded and debated smoking ban will go into effect July 1, and smokers will no longer enjoy free reign in their favorite bars, taverns or restaurants to light up if they see fit. That is, unless, a move by the state Legislature to normalize smoking restrictions across the state and preserve some sense of autonomy concerning tobacco use passes.
House Bill 3953 would, if passed, forbid smoking in all restaurants, except in areas closed to minors such as bars or lounges. The bill has already passed through the House and backers are making a strong push in the Capitol to see that it is signed into law. Last week supporters of the bill moved $17.5 million in tobacco-use prevention funds from the state’s health division toward the measure to effectively force Gov. John Kitzhaber to sign the bill if he expects to fund anti-tobacco education. If the bill does pass, earlier smoking bans enacted by cities such as Corvallis, Baker City and others would be grandfathered in, but Eugene’s would be nullified.
And that would be a good result.
Eugene’s ban goes too far in restricting individual’s basic responsibility to him or herself under the premise of a greater good. No one can argue that excessive tobacco use is not harmful to both the smokers themselves and those immediately around them. But one can argue that it is the individual’s choice to either protect his or her health or endanger it.
Mature adults should be left with the choice of whether they would like to smoke or not; the city should not make that choice for them. Emphasis is placed on “mature,” as children should not be subjected to unnecessary exposure to second-hand smoke. Children are already banned from these areas to protect them from the excesses of alcohol, so it is within reason to apply the same guidelines to tobacco. Therefore, it makes sense to limit smoking to areas were mindful adults can choose to either light up or avoid those who do.
One can easily argue that any limitation of personal action through law is a deviation from the logic that individuals should be left to make their own decisions. But today it is highly unreasonable to suggest a system in which personal liberty is the end all, so a rational compromise is the best solution. Leaving smoking within bars and taverns whose owners permit smoking is, then, the most sensible action.
But one can also argue that giving bar owners the right to decide to permit smoking also takes the decision from the hands of the individual. This is true, but only in the sense that for that specific bar the choice has been made for the individual. That person, if he or she disagrees with the owner, can choose another bar. Eugene’s smoking ban does not allow for this option, and so in this regard it is also an unfair limitation on one’s autonomy.
Not only is this an affront to the individual, it is also an affront to the business owner who must compete with another town that allows its residents the right to choose what they can do with tobacco. If Eugene’s ban goes into effect, there likely will be an influx of business to the bars in Springfield, Junction City and other neighboring cities that do not impose such stringent limitations on one’s personal tobacco use.
This is the very reason why the Oregon Restaurant Association has been an active critic of local smoking ordinances and helped draft HB 3953. A statewide approach that offers a sensible compromise is the best answer to the issue of tobacco use in public places. Let us hope that Oregon’s lawmakers realize this.

The emerald city, a national jewel
It is with great pleasure that we see Eugene has been a focus for the national spotlight this past weekend. While this is not the first time our city has received some national attention, it is pleasing that this round is largely positive and not focusing on Eugene’s reputation as the headquarters for anarchy. Locals have long known the benefits of this often quiet city from the educational atmosphere provided by both the University and Lane Community College, numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, a stable economy and a unique, if at times struggling, downtown area. According to some reports there were nearly 20,000 visitors to Eugene this past weekend that included top track athletes, Bach fans, handweavers and even Norwegian singers and attendees of the Black Sheep Gathering. We heartily welcome them all, and remind them that Eugene’s qualities can be enjoyed year-round — if one doesn’t mind a little rain, that is.

Summertime — when the ODE is easy
While most of our fellow students are out of town enjoying their summer break, the staff of the Oregon Daily Emerald will still be publishing this summer. This is the first newspaper of the summer term, to be followed every Tuesday and Thursday by more issues providing our readers with an in-depth look into both campus and local news, sports and entertainment.