Give smokers a break at drinking establishments

A letter was written by Brian Davis (“Here’s what is offtune about S.F.’s rules for outdoor live music at bars,” Letters, SFChronicle.com, Dec. 22) He is the head of LGBTminustobacco, an organization solely funded by government taxes. He referenced a contrived survey where 245 people were hand-selected which somewhat endorsed his priority. He failed to mention that his organization has failed to get any bar owners to endorse his efforts, and he can’t even get one bar to do a single smokefree patio evening. So, instead his state-funded group is trying to pressure local officials to embrace his “nanny-state” of preventing the choice of smoking at outdoor bar patios.

Given the cold of S.F. evenings, nonsmoking patrons of bars are unlikely to spend time in these patios. Instead, Brian seeks to force smokers to leave these businesses and smoke on pedestrian walkways instead (obviously impacting bar revenues).

Post-COVID, one local bar had its patio defined as smoke free (food was required at the time). Eventually, the impact on their revenue caused them to later reverse that decision, and the bar manager made it clear that the business would have closed had they not allowed smokers to enjoy that space. Some bars get the majority of their income from these patios, and tourists are also appreciative of a public space where they can comfortably smoke if they choose.

His tax-funded organization has offered no ongoing compensation for lost business at these bars, and they deny the rational thought that revenue would be negatively affected. The interiors of all bars are already smoke-free areas.

His organization is government corruption at its worst: a state-funded group seeking to influence local policies despite the likely loss of many businesses due to this government intrusion. Brian seems to consider the inevitable loss of businesses and jobs just collateral damage of his campaign.

The state should defund this group (stop wasting money during budget cuts!), and redirect any funds to our public schools. And local officials need to avoid any anti-business agendas.

Tony Jasinski, San Francisco

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