Smoking bans make sense

I am in Colorado and California frequently. Both states have banned smoking in public areas, including restaurants. From personal observation and reading news stories there, I have not seen evidence that the bans have hurt the involved businesses. In fact, many report that their business has improved with the removal of smoking.

What I do not understand about some of the business owners and managers in Virginia is their inability to deal with simple mathematics. Nationwide, adult smoking has diminished to well under 30 percent of the population. In this region, the smokers probably approach 30 percent.

Many businesses are willing to alienate 70 percent of the population in order to satisfy 30 percent of the people. As a business consultant, I do not think that the owners in question have much marketing savvy.

Chuck Lindell
Bristol, Tenn.