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Smoking Bans: Public Health vs. Civil Liberties

This month, the San Diego Port Commission and the County Board of Supervisors adopted ordinances prohibiting smoking at parks and beaches. These bans are the latest string of ordinances to be adopted

December 2006 may go down in the history books as a hallmark for the anti-smoking movement. This month alone, the San Diego Port Commission adopted an ordinance prohibiting smoking at its 17 parks, at beaches, at piers and boat-launch ramps. And the county board of supervisors ruled against smoking in county parks, campgrounds and open spaces. You can’t smoke on San Diego golf courses or at Qualcomm Stadium and Mesa College. Is this a win-win situation for non-smokers? Or are even anti-smokers losing something with all these laws? Our guests debate the public health benefits vs. the civil liberties of smoking bans.

Guests

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  • Michael Metti , vice-chair, San Diego Libertarian Party.
  • Debra Kelley , vice president of government relations, American Lung Association of California, San Diego chapter.

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