Smoking ban hurts more people than it helps in long run

Before we even begin, I want it to be known that I am not a smoker, nor have I ever been. I don't like being around people while they are smoking, and I certainly don't appreciate dealing with secondhand smoke while I am trying to enjoy a meal. However, I believe smokers do have rights, and I feel those rights have been infringed upon by the recent smoking ban.

On Jan. 1, 2007, a new law went into effect, prohibiting smoking in any public place in Hattiesburg, including bars and restaurants. I found out about the ban in November, and at first I couldn't have been happier.

I was anxious for New Year's Day to roll around so I could finally go into any place I chose and not have to deal with some jerk sitting next to me blowing his cigarette smoke in my face.

After Jan. 1, however, the smoking ban began to affect me in a negative way for one simple reason: I am a server at a restaurant. As such, this new law has hurt me financially in more ways than I could have imagined.

I work at Cuco's, right down the road from USM. Before Jan. 1, business was good, customers were happy and I was happy because I was making pretty good money waiting tables. Now I'm lucky to finish an eight-hour shift with $30 of tips in my pocket. And, trust me, when you're working for $2.13 an hour, you depend on all the tips you can get.

At first I refused to believe the smoking ban was to blame for the lack of business. Then I did a little research. Cuco's isn't the only place suffering. I talked to people from Chesterfield's, Chili's, Mugshots and many other establishments. Every person I talked to said his or her business has been drastically reduced.

Being a server, I am also able to get many customers' opinions on the matter, and believe me when I say they aren't happy. As hypocritical as it sounds, I agree with them.

People just don't want to go out, especially to bars, if they can't smoke. Even people I know who don't regularly smoke will always fire up a couple of cigarettes while they're drinking. People who do smoke regularly don't want to hang out and drink at a bar if they have to go outside every 10 minutes just to have a smoke. And, I suppose even I don't blame them for that, especially with the way the weather has been lately.

As a nonsmoker, I have put up with smokers my entire life. I don't enjoy it, but I deal with it. Any time I went into a bar or restaurant I accepted people smoked inside. If I didn't like smoking was allowed in an establishment, then I could take it upon myself not to go there. I realized then, as I do now, people are going to smoke and there is nothing I can do about it no matter how much I complain.

But perhaps the most unjust aspect of the entire situation is citizens of Hattiesburg were not given a say in the matter The Hattiesburg City Council met last year and decided this was going to happen no matter what the taxpayers of the city said. Hattiesburg residents were not allowed a vote on any other kind of voice on the subject. So, is this a democracy or a dictatorship?

But hey, what do I know? I'm just a working college student, and until I get elected to the Hattiesburg City Council, I'll just continue to support myself on the $2.13 an hour I make waiting on people that don't show up to my restaurant because they can't smoke there.

This is a column of opinion written by Printz Staff Writer Haskel Burns. Comments about this column can be sent to printz@usm.edu.