The smoking ban throughout the city of Evansville is, in theory, a good idea. With the exception of the fact that the ban doesn’t allow smoking in bars. That’s about the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard.

I want to start by just stating the obvious: who the hell goes to the bar to do anything constructive for their body, anyway? I’m not sure if the city of Evansville realized this or not, but drinking alcohol isn’t that terrific for your body. But hey, that’s OK it isn’t as vile or offensive as smoking a cigarette, God forbid anybody do that at a bar.

But choosing a preference as to how the citizens of Evansville destroy their bodies is nice of them, they’re creating a nice smoke-free environment. People who complain about smoking in bars shouldn’t attend the bar. How dare they get upset because they have a “headache,” do you not realize that Coors Light you’re chugging down with your bros will give you a headache in the morning?

OK, OK dialing back a bit and on to a more serious note: private bar owners should have some sort of control as to how they run their bar. Yes, bars are definitely going to struggle with this. It’s going to create a big adjustment for how they conduct their business.  Frankly, if they invest their life and money into a bar and decide they want it to be a smoking environment why can’t they?

I understand the ban other places, naturally, but a bar is a very different environment. I’ve never thought “Hey, I’m going to go to the bar and it’s going to be a healthy environment for me.” No, I go to the bar to casually drink and socialize with friends, and yes, while I smoke a cigarette. Something about drinking and smoking simultaneously just makes the cigarette taste better, and now they are taking that away from me. I’m sorry, I’ve never heard anyone say “Hey, I don’t want to go to the bar because people are going to smoke and it offends me.” People are usually wise enough to realize that the two just do go hand-in-hand. End of story.

And can we please discuss why Casino Aztar is exempt from this? Idon’t think Casino Aztar’s patrons have magical lungs that make them immune to smoking.