For years liquor-serving establishments

insisted that the right to drive and the right to drink liquor meant we

had to put up with drunk drivers every Friday and Saturday night. They

insisted that they had no responsibility to the community for the drunks

they created and then sent out on our streets to drive home.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers

finally got us to see that we had the right to stay alive and that right

took precedence over the right to get drunk and endanger others simply

because it was more convenient for the drunks who ignored the danger to

themselves and others.

Are the restaurants in your

community encouraging irresponsible actions by ignoring the known dangers

or are they taking responsibility by really protecting you from irresponsible

smokers? Smoking bans should not be necessary, but like drunk driving

laws with serious consequences, some people will always refuse to acknowledge

the needless risk their habits pose to others until they are required

to.

Look around, actions speak

louder than words. Do your restaurants already take responsibility or

do they just demand more privileges anyway?

Kathie Cheney

Peachtree City, Ga.

[Editor's note: The Tyrone

Council declined to take a vote on the matter last week.]