Winnipeg thought it had a way to reduce smoking in public shops — it passed a regulation that went in effect January 1 that prohibited smoking in stores and shops that were frequented by children. The people who approved this law probably did not anticipate the reaction of some businesses — several doughnut shops, restaurants and delicatessens responded by prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 from entering their businesses.
Of course the usual suspects are outraged, with Winnipeg immigration lawyer David Matas telling The Globe and Mail that, “Children are a vulnerable minority. But you can’t discriminate against them because you want to make money.” Apparently, then, bars which serve alcohol, and, as a consequence, ban children, would also be discriminating against a “vulnerable minority” simply to make money.
Source:
Doughnut shop bans children to allow customers to smoke. Krista Foss, The Globe and Mail, January 5, 2002.