Ask St. Louis: Should St. Louis Enact a Smoking Ban?

The City of St Louis and the County of St Louis should not go smoke-free unless the state mandates it. The state has the jurisdiction per the statutes.
Yes- smoking is bad for you. No- kids shouldn't be inhaling smoke. That being said- when have you ever seen a kid in a bar? And if they are there, why??
If having a smoke-free restaurant/bar is better for business, wouldn't the individual business owners then decide to go smoke-free? And why have so many NOT gone smoke free? Because smokers drink and alcohol is a larger profit margin that refilling a child's soda repeatedly. Yes- sales tax figures may reflect higher receipts for cities such as Ballwin that have enacted a smoking ban, but that doesn't mean businesses are more PROFITABLE. Any questions? Ask the owners of restaurants in Ballwin that have closed- Seven Trails, Harry's West, Zhivago's, Longhorn, etc.