Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 5, 1990                   TAG: 9003052233
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SOME GROCERIES DISCOURAGE SMOKING

THERE IS an elegantly simple solution to the lament of Roberta Echols ("Smoke offensive in grocery stores," Feb. 16). Food Lion has a companywide policy encouraging non-smoking in their grocery stores. Shoppers are greeted with a modest "Thank You For Not Smoking" sign at the entrances, along with two unobtrusive ash trays.

I have spoken with three Food Lion managers in the past two months, and all three reported that there had been no complaints as a result of this policy. This leads me to believe that there are those within the small minority of smokers who are becoming more considerate of the right of everyone to breathe smoke-free air. JOHN A. SABEAN ROANOKE