With eating and drinking establishments becoming a bigger and bigger part of the Clark County economy, restaurateurs should be heartened by the news that Congress is still working hard to protect eateries from the threat of obese people filing class action lawsuits.

The Los Angeles Times reports that even though this litigation has failed the only time it was ever tried, the real reason for the push is check any blowout in liability insurance. The mere rumor that these suits may get going could push rates up, says the food industry.

Of course, the restaurant association likes to compare its plight with the massive litigation that forced the tobacco industry to fold its hand and submit to the multi-billion dollar settlement.

“Tort reform” is still a powerful cry and trial lawyers continue to rank right up with used car salesmen as one of the most despised minorities in America. The tobacco analogy, though, misses one very important point.

Anti-smoking groups tried for a long time to win verdicts from juries. Juries didn’t buy it because they figured that there was a big element of personal choice in lighting up.

The big break for the trial lawyers only came when a ton of incriminating documents came to light that showed the industry had deliberately misled people about the dangers of smoking and developed strategies to keep a constant stream of new customers hooked on nicotine.

If restaurants and food manufacturers have not been playing fast and loose with the truth to persuade us to eat food we wouldn’t have eaten if we had only known how bad it was for us, they should be safe.

Don’t you just love those health products — skinny latte, lite popcorn and fat-reduced cheese?