La Crosse County officials are working toward a countywide smoke-free ordinance — which would ban smoking in all workplaces and public places.

That’s the good news.
The bad news is the committee working on the law is refusing to consider allowing businesses to set up outdoor smoking areas — or even allow people to go outside a bar for a smoke.

Smoke-free laws are groundbreaking. Not everyone agrees with the concept. And bars, some of which tend to attract more smokers than many businesses, are particularly sensitive about the plan.

One committee member who opposed the ordinance said, “I don’t like it as an entire blanket rule.” He said the issue should be left to the free choice of individuals.

Unfortunately, indoor smoking affects nonsmoking as well as smoking employees and patrons.

And, while employees theoretically have the opportunity to seek jobs in nonsmoking businesses, in today’s economy that’s by no means a sure thing.

So, the idea of an indoor smoking ban is a positive thing — and, given the trends throughout the country, it’s the wave of the future.

Given all that, does it make sense to prevent business from establishing outdoor smoking areas?

Some communities with smoking bans — including Minneapolis — have not chosen to take such a rigid stand. In Minneapolis, it’s common to see outdoor seating areas for smokers.

Why should La Crosse County be alone among communities with smoking bans in preventing

smokers from conveniently going outside to feed their habit?

By all means, let’s take steps to ban indoor smoking in workplaces and other public places.

But in the process, let’s not make the law so rigid that smokers can’t even go outside — or sit in an outdoor smoking area — to satisfy their habits.

Let’s use a little common sense as we move toward a more smoke-free society.

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