How far is too far for smoking prohibition?

Smokers may feel increasingly under attack these days. They could be denied employment in Pennsylvania, and they may soon find it even harder to have a cigarette anywhere in public. Is it going too far?

Smokers may feel increasingly under attack these days. They could be denied employment in Pennsylvania, and they may soon find it even harder to have a cigarette anywhere in public.

Is this fair, or shouldthey butt out? Tell us.

WHYY’s Taunya English reported today that Geisinger Health System will turn down job applicants starting in February if they are found to be smokers. This will make them the third health system in Pennsylvania that requires a nicotine screening test for new hires.

On Monday, WHYY’s Mary Wilson reported on an effort originating in the Pennsylvania Senate to ensure that the indoor smoking ban is more widely applied at bars and restaurants. At present, bars are exempt from the smoking ban if food accounts for less than 20 percent of their total annual sales.

Geisinger Health System says smokers are not a protected class under U.S. anti-discrimination laws, but do you think employers go too far when smokers are denied employment? If someone takes up smoking after being hired, should he or she be subject to termination?