Re: Bar and restaurant owners blast Bill 26 by Jennifer Isaac, Dec. 20.When a similar drinking and driving bill was introduced in B.C., published statistics show that deaths as a result of impaired or drunk driving were reduced by 40 per cent.The reactions of Al Andrews and Lee Bolster are reminiscent of messages of doom and gloom voiced by many restaurant and bar owners when the non-smoking bill was introduced. In that event, when the smoke had cleared, many businesses, especially those that accepted and adjusted to change, improved.The message here is: lives trump a few percentage points on the bottom line. Unless businesses keep up to date and change their business models to recognize the new reality, they are predicting a self-fulfilling prophecy.After all, you, a member of your family or a friend may be among the 40 per cent.Steve NielsenDidsbury
