Oct 01 2008
San Francisco - Cigarette Ban @ Walgreens
First let me say that I do not smoke and never have. That being said I totally disagree with the new ban imposed on Walgreens drugs here in San Francisco. While I respect and like our Mayor, Gavin Newsom, I don’t always agree with him and this is one instant where I do not agree.The point of this ban on selling cigarettes at Walgreens and a few Rite Aid drugstores is based on the premise that these drug stores are supposedly geared towards a healthy shopping experience and therefore cigarettes should be banned and will begin tomorrow October 2nd. I don’t remember any of us voting for this ridiculous law. Even though, I do not like cigarettes or people smoking around me, I dislike it even more when I am told what I can or cannot do. I firmly believe that if people want to smoke it is their choice and is also their choice where they can buy their cigarettes. I don’t think the government whether on a federal, state or local level has the right to tell businesses what they can or cannot sell. I mean seriously what’s next? Are they going to start banning candy because it’s not healthy? or certain magazine because they have a somewhat erotic content?
There are stores all over the bay area selling guns - guns which kill yet they are not banned. What about liquor stores? People drink and drive all the time yet liquor is not banned. Yet they impose this ban which will inevitably cause major financial losses for Walgreens and as a result the trickle down will result in lost jobs, wage cuts and in this economy - another business down the tubes. It just doesn’t make sense to me and I detest these dictatorship rules. Walgreens stated that they would lose an estimated one million dollars per year as a result of this ban and took it to superior court. The court ruled in favor of the ban. So, for now Walgreens has to comply with that ruling.
My point here is let’s work on the real problems and let’s lose the dictatorship attitude.
You’re exactly right. The question isn’t whether or not smoking is healthy .. that’s a no-brainer. The problem is that a ban like this always begs the question “what’s next?”. Watch out kiddies… your favorite fry-eating clown in red hair could be next!
As a smoker and San Fran resident, I’d also like to mention that Walgreen’s was one of the cheaper places to get smokes here. Gavin Newsome has a reputation as being a credible liberal politician, but most of his issues of choice are nakedly for the purpose of grabbing headlines. He has his sights on the Governorship, of course.
You both make excellent points.
Joel, thank you for reading and commenting. The point here is that all of our freedoms are being taken away from us and where does it stop. This is a free country and we all have freedom of choice.