Posted on 02/16/2004 8:36:41 AM PST by SheLion
AUGUSTA -- Bar patrons might be finding it easier to take a breath when downing a pint, but the smoking ban is choking local pubs.
Because of the no-smoking law, local restaurant bars are reporting declining sales as smokers go elsewhere to order a drink and light up.
"This is the worst I have seen," said Shawn O'Connor, Jonathan's Restaurant owner. "I am doing numbers (sales he had) when I first started 16 years ago."
Customers don't want to stand outdoors in the bitter winter or foul weather to puff, he said, noting business has dropped 40 percent because of the combination of the ban and weather.
"We're not getting anything," he said. "Now, there's no difference between leaving outside work to smoke and coming here to smoke. This is supposed to be a getaway."
At the Old Mill Pub in Skowhegan, business is down around 20 percent, according to owner Lou Hornstein.
"I have a problem with the government interfering with free enterprise," he said. "I haven't seen the promised replacement of nonsmokers coming in."
"I don't see Baldacci running down here," O'Connor said.
Bar smokers often venture to outside entrances or decks like at the Old Mill Pub.
Having a deck is not a good opportunity to gain back the smoking crowd, according to Hornstein.
"In Maine, there is only three good months," he said. "If it's raining or snowing, you effectively don't have a deck."
Having begun Jan. 1, the law is not only affecting owners, but also their employees.
Susie LaBelle is the bar manager for Sully's Tavern in Winthrop, and her usually stuffed tip jar is regularly half full since the ban.
"I'm a smoker, and it's almost a Roe versus Wade sort of thing," she said. "People don't go to bars to be healthy. We are not subjecting people to smoke. They can come here or not. Let their feet do the talking."
If feet are doing the talking, more smokers are trekking to private clubs for drink and a smoke.
Clubs like the Elks Lodge and the American Legion offer permitted smoking bars and are exempt from the law only if the paid employees agree to allow smoking. The clubs must be nonsmoking if the employees are volunteers.
The Elks and American Legion say they are not aware of increased membership because of the smoking ban, but restaurant owners say many of their regular smoking customers are flocking to them.
"There would be more people gravitating to private clubs because of the ban," said Ron Sailor for the state American Legion.
Allowing private clubs and off-track betting establishments to operate smoking bars is discrimination, said Jeff Hinds, owner of Sully's Tavern.
"It's not a level playing field because the law does not go across the whole board," he said. "It's like saying only this bar can have a smoking area. Owners should be outraged."
The state has clamped down by charging two bars in southern Maine with violating the smoking ban last week; fines can reach the thousands.
In the meantime, bars are trying to find alternatives to fill the empty cash registers resulting from the ban, such as making smoking decks.
Jonathan's Restaurant is trying to bring revenue in by making home deliveries, but many businesses don't know how to fight the lost business.
"I wish I knew what to do," LaBelle said. "If only I could afford a high-priced law firm to fight the state."
I'm glad you saw this, Gabz. I was going to ask you about it.
Definitely needs repeating.
Spin and lies, spin and lies. The professional anti's go in, they control and conquer, then move on to take over another business.
And smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes are paying for their wages. Nice, eh? not!
OK, seriously though - I would be careful about using profitability as your primary argument against restaurant smoking bans. Here in Tucson, we had a smoking ban in restaurants enacted about five years ago. The main argument used by the local business community was one based on profits - nobody argued against it as an unwarranted intrusion of regulation in private commerce.
Initially, there was a dropoff in business, such that the local government said they would revisit the issue in the next year. So what happens next? The restaurants business really picked up, surpassing their pre-ban numbers. The reason for this was the local population growth was ginormous - I think Tucson was like the fourth-fastest growing area at that time (still up in the top 10 or 20). Since all the anti-ban arguments were couched in terms of profits, the whole thing faded away. The ban is now in place and permanent. Not a chance it will go away.
Personally, I prefer to eat without smoke, but before the ban I did not have any trouble finding smoke-free places to eat (either they did not allow smoking, or there was an adequate non-smoking area). Now, it does not matter what I like or dislike; the choice is made for me.
They COULD be a nasty weapon you know.. and in the wrong hands could put out an eye.. ok ok maybe a license(tax) to throw darts with proper certification...
Being subjected to filthy, disgusting, unhealthy tobacco smoke in public places is a violation of MY freedom.
I say, hurray for the state of Maine. Smoking ought to be forbidden everywhere except on your own property.
Stay at home and poison your own fool self, if you are a weak, pathetic, butt-sucking, nicotine-junkie loser who can't kick the addiction.
Don't light your filthy cancer sticks anywhere the smoke will drift into MY clean air, otherwise you are selfishly violating MY freedom.
-ccm
I say, hurray for the state of Maine. Smoking ought to be forbidden everywhere except on your own property.
Stay at home and poison your own fool self, if you are a weak, pathetic, butt-sucking, nicotine-junkie loser who can't kick the addiction.
Don't light your filthy cancer sticks anywhere the smoke will drift into MY clean air, otherwise you are selfishly violating MY freedom.
I guess you care nothing for the concept of private property. You know the concept, where you are allowed to own and do with what you want with your own private property. If you don't like a bar because there is smoking going on, then go to another bar.
Now you do have a point in public places that you do not have a choice (public bus, public train, etc.)
And PS - I do not smoke. I hate smoking. But this issue has nothing to do with smoking...
-ccm
Now, the State did a full smoke ban with the Taverns, bars and Sports Inns. And it's really killing the private sector.
I didn't write this article, but we sure have been keeping an eye on the outcome. It isn't pretty. And I am sure you who do not like to be around smokers, could have found a place to eat that didn't HAVE smoking. Why not let the business owner decide and not the state?
I know. LOL!
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