A random survey shows Lincoln residents overwhelmingly support the city’s smoking ban — and they believe it’s made bars and restaurants healthier places to drink and dine. Nearly 72 percent of those surveyed said they support the controversial Smoking Regulation Act, which was passed by 62 percent of voters in November.
In addition, 85 percent of those surveyed said they went to the bar as much or more often since the ban went into effect Jan. 1; 89 percent said the same thing for restaurants.
Still, some bar owners said the ban has hurt business. And at least one — Big John’s Billiards — has blamed the ban for its closing.
“I think the smoking ban has cost us customers, it has grown some customers for us and it has changed the way customers behave,” said Michael Carpenter, owner of Libations, Too at 5310 S. 56th St.
Mayor Coleen Seng and other officials announced the survey results Monday at the Red Fox Steakhouse and Lounge, 1339 W. O St.
They chose the Red Fox in part because its owner, Don Arena, initially opposed the ban.
“I was so scared that my business was going to be hurt,” Arena told reporters.
He has since changed his mind.
“It’s done wonders for my business,” Arena said, adding a personal note: “I can come to work and breathe normally.”
Others apparently feel the same way, too. The survey showed 91 percent now consider restaurants and bars healthier; 73 percent of those who smoked felt the same way.
“The act is doing exactly what it was intended to do: Protect the health of Lincoln’s employees and residents, and this survey shows that Lincolnites appreciate that,” said Cindy Jeffrey, a spokesperson for Tobacco Free Lincoln, one of a handful of groups that worked to pass the law.
Brian Kitten, a partner in Brewsky’s Food & Spirits, said the survey numbers don’t tell the whole story.
He said keno revenues are down — an average of 23 percent from a year ago — because of the ban.
“Those people are going somewhere else,” Kitten said, suggesting many now leave Lincoln for Waverly or Denton.
The ban has hurt parts of Brewsky’s business, he said, especially revenue from pool and darts.
“The customer who comes in to play pool and darts is generally a drinker and a smoker,” Kitten said.
Officials did not have figures on the economic impact of the smoking ban.
About the survey
The June random phone survey of 982 residents was done by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regulation and licensure section of data management to gauge support for the city’s smoking ban.
Of those participating:
* 78 percent described themselves as nonsmokers
* 22 percent described themselves as smokers
Compliance not a problem
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 11, authorities wrote 22 tickets to individuals and four to businesses; they also fielded 50 complaints. And 97 percent of smokers who responded to the survey said they always comply with the ban.
Others apparently feel the same way, too. The survey showed 91 percent now consider restaurants and bars healthier; 73 percent of those who smoked felt the same way.
Very intersting...nearly identical numbers have been arrived at by every other survey done by other DHHS's in other parts of the country.....and I owuld venture to say that Nebraska used nearly the identical questions used in other states.........and not a single one of the "surveys" asks anything about the rights of the business owner to make their own decisions.
These "surveys" are geared specifically to get the results they desire by the wording of the questions.