I think a lot of the anti-smoking laws we’re seeing that regulate private clubs and restaurants comes out of a holier-than-thou desire to “save” other people from their choices, regardless of whether they want to be saved or not.  So it was with amusement that I read an ad in today’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram for a product called Revel (careful, tobacco content on that site!).

Someone once said that the internet regards censorship as damage and routes around it.  I like to think the market is a similar organism when it comes to regulation.  Revel is just smokeless tobacco pouches that can be used without having to light up, but it represents the market routing around the do-gooders.  Good for the market.  I hope it gives the anti-smoking nuts apoplexy.  I can see it now: How dare those ignorant dolts ignore us!  We know what’s best for them!

Note:  I acknowledge that there are a few people who are genuinely allergic to tobacco smoke, but I don’t see how that outweighs the rights of business owners to decide on their own property if people may smoke or not.