Single-speed or 7-speed cruiser bike?

I am trying to decide between a single-speed cruiser bike with coaster brakes and a 7-speed cruiser bike with hand brakes. I haven't ridden a bike in about 15 years so figured a cruiser would great for me. I will be mostly using it on bike paths, sidewalks, and side roads, probably never on a busy road. My concern is that the coaster brake will be less "safe" than a hand brake. Also, do I need 7-speeds? Or is a single-speed sufficient?