Ill. Restaurant Assn. needs to get out from behind smoke screen.

This article reports that on June 29, 2005 Chicago, Illinois Alderman Ed Smith introduced an ordinance to make all public places in Chicago, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free. The Illinois Restaurant Association, to quote its position paper on smoking, has always opposed a government-mandated smoking ban. It prefers allowing restaurant and bar owners to determine the degree of smoking in their establishments. The Illinois Restaurant Association also claims that a selective ban would isolate Chicago and place its restaurants, the convention industry, hotels and other tourist industries at an extreme competitive disadvantage.