OF LOOSE DOGS AND RESTAURANTS GOING SMOKE-FREE: BUSINESSES CARRY A RESPONSIBILITY TO NON-SMOKERS

Society's tolerance of smoking has waned. It's a change that has left many smokers out in the cold.

The newest trend to sweep the area affects restaurants. Some new eating establishments have banned smoking all together, such as Fazoli's. Other national chains -- such as McDonalds and Taco Bell -- are encouraging local franchises to ban tobacco use.

While we support an individual's right to choose, we must agree that public establishments also carry a responsibility to non-smokers. Smoking doesn't just affect the individual choosing to inhale. The dangers of second-hand smoke have been documented in study after study. And businesses must remember that smokers are the minority -- only about 26 percent of Missourians are smokers.

In our litigation-driven society, the decision to go smoke-free can extend become one of mere philosophy.

In early 1993, the EPA classified cigarette smoke as a cancer agent more dangerous than arsenic or radon. It also espoused the deadly nature of second-hand smoke -- the cause of some 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually in adults and as many as 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in children. This official thumbs down has exposed some businesses to lawsuits from non-smoking employees.

Working behind the scenes locally to encourage more smoke-free businesses is the Cape Girardeau ASSIST program. It is currently surveying local businesses about their smoking policies. A number of other organizations are also active in educational efforts -- including the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society.

The Clean Indoor Air Law, approved in Missouri in 1992, also guides businesses in establishing no-smoking areas.

Even the federal government has provided leadership in this regard. With 3.6 million military and civilian employees, the Department of Defense can be considered one of the world's largest employers. Earlier this month, it instituted a smoking ban in the work place -- which ranges from the Pentagon to battle tanks. The FDA has even considered classifying nicotine as a drug -- a move that could take cigarettes off the market. Realistically, such extreme measures will find stiff opposition.

Perhaps the better approach is to tackle the problem one smoker -- or one business -- at a time. When the smoke clears, more businesses will probably jump on the smoke-free bandwagon. It seems a step in the right direction for a healthier America.