Starting today, you won’t be able to light up in the vast majority of Virginia’s restaurants and bars. That’s because newly signed state legislation prohibits smoking while eating in public, except under specific circumstances like dining on an outdoor patio or in a separately ventilated area.
We think the new rule is a positive development and are eager for the changes to take effect. The benefits will go a long way toward ensuring a healthier environment for everyone in the restaurant business, in addition to the patrons themselves.
Back in February and March, as legislators were hammering out the bill’s specifics, emotions ran high on this issue. People across the state flooded newspapers and Internet forums with letters to the editor and other opinions, pro and con. Folks naturally expressed passionate insights that had merit on both sides.
Perhaps now that it’s a done deal, however, it’s a bit ironic that the outcry — remember, this state’s economy was largely built upon the tobacco industry — has since died down. No one seems to be up in arms over the so-called smoking ban, and we doubt many people will refuse to eat out because they can no longer enjoy a cigarette.
Smokers, and restaurants, will have to adapt. And the legislation will present new opportunities for innovative, albeit well-pocketed, eateries to perhaps brand themselves as revamped havens for those who can’t survive without a nicotine fix.
For everyone else, eating becomes a lot more enjoyable today — regardless of the restaurant.
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