Smoking Ban Cuts Bingo Profits

Re “Ban May Spell Trouble,” Feb. 2: I am an ex-heavy smoker and an ex-bingo player. Until the smoking ban went into effect on Jan. 1, I was forced to inhale stinking smoke, which in turn jeopardized my health and made my clothes smell like a dirty old ashtray for the chance to maybe win a $250 jackpot! Why do smokers think their rights are more important than a nonsmoker’s right to live in a less hazardous atmosphere?

For all bar owners and bingo operators who are complaining about the smoking ban and their loss of revenues, perhaps legal action against these people would result in bigger payouts for the nonsmoking bingo players.

SUZANNE G. VERRET

Los Angeles

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So, bingo halls no longer allow smoking due to new anti-smoking regulations. They are allegedly experiencing a drop in revenues, and they’re complaining that now less money will be available for services these nonprofits provide, such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

This makes no sense: They’re saying they need a bunch of people to smoke (and die), so that they can save a bunch of people from dying from other drugs? Surely there has got to be another way to find funding that doesn’t involve killing off one group just to save another. And if there isn’t, perhaps those nonprofits should think twice about whether they really want that blood money on their hands.

RAHM TAMIR

Venice