The Facts About The Smoking Ban. If you're a business owner or not, this is a must read!

The Facts Online ^ | 11-01-03 | Dave Hitt

[SheLion]

Every company's greatest assets are its customers, because without customers there is no company.
- Michael LeBoeuf

Businesses Harmed by Smoking Bans

Anti-smoking organizations insist that bans are somehow good for people in hospitality businesses. This chart shows otherwise. These businesses have lost a significant portion of their business as a direct result of smoking bans. Many are closed. Many that are still open have told us they doubt they'll survive much longer.

Most of this information comes directly from businesses that have contacted me or my colleagues. Some comes from newspaper articles. Blank spaces in the chart represent data that is unavailable, or that doesn't apply. (For instance, a distributor doesn't receive tips, and many owner-operators of small taverns don't have any employees other than themselves and family members.)

Business	Type Of Business	Closed?	Business Lost	Tips Lost	Jobs Lost	City	State
Crocodile Cafe	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Tempe	AZ
Pooch's Easy Street Billiards	Pool Hall	Closed	100%	100%		Tempe	AZ
Laurel Bowl	Bowling Alley	Closed	100%	100%		San Luis Obispo	CA
385 league bowlers quit when the smoking ban went into effect, with a loss of $200,000. Laurel Bowl had been in business for 37 years before the ban.
Alexander Mackenzie Inn	Hotel	Not Yet	92%		16	Fort St. John	CAN
"Since we were `beaten' into compliance by the WCB, our business has dropped in the lounge from $1,000 a day to $80. "
Beacon Hill Arms	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		Ottawa	CAN
Dave O'Connor, who successfully ran Ottawa's Beacon Hill Arms pub for nine years, said the ban forced him out of business. "From September to February, we lost close to $80,000 in sales"
Bud's Place	Tavern	Not Yet	23%			Cambrage	CAN
Gardeli's	Bar/Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Castlegar	CAN
Hemingway's	Bar/Restaraunt	Not Yet	40%		6	Ottawa	CAN
MacKenzie Lounge	Tavern	Not Yet	80%			Yellowknife	CAN
Mingles Coffee Shoppe	Coffee Shop	Closed	100%	100%		Kitchener	CAN
Rupert Pub	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		Prince Rupert	CAN
Sky Garden	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%	6	Ottawa	CAN
"It was 100% because of the bylaw. Sales dropped 50%. Our cups of coffee were down 400 to 500 a day, our meals 20 to 30 a day."
The Patch	Tavern	Not Yet	70%			St. Albert	CAN
Tubbys Pizza	Pizza Parlor	Not Yet	20%		2	Crescentwood	CAN
Back Stage Cafe	Bar/Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%	20	Wilmington	DE
Coach House	Bar/Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%	8	Wilmington	DE
Just Mugs Saloon	Tavern	Not Yet	33%			Bear	DE
Naamans Cafe	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%	8	Wilmington	DE
Elks #1795	Lodge (Private Club)	Not Yet	40%	22%		Fort Walton	FL
"Charity money is down 45%. Our Charities are Kids of Florida and the Veterans. That is who is really getting hurt the most by this!"
Elks #2256	Lodge (Private Club)	Not Yet	20%	30%		Pensacola Beach	FL
"We've lost 70 members because of the ban"
Elks #2273	Lodge (Private Club)	Not Yet	60%	60%	1	Plantation	FL
Melons Bar & Grill	Bar/Restruant	Not Yet	50%			Port Charlotte	FL
The Falls	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Naples	FL
"We lost 70 percent of our income," Renzello said. "The law put us out of business." 90 percent of her customers were smokers.
Bart's	Bar/Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Louisville	CO
Bart's had been in operation for nearly 30 years.
Gold Mine Restaraunt	Bar/Restaraunt	Not Yet	50%	50%	2	Fall River	MA
"There should be places for both the smoker and nonsmoker. I do not smoke but you are killing our business!!! "
Buffalo Wings and Beer	Bar/Restruant	Not Yet	50%			Gaithersburg	MD
Gentleman Jim's	Restaurant	Not Yet	40%			Gaithersburg	MD
J.J. Muldoon's	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	20%			Gaithersburg	MD
Middlebrook Restaurant and Lounge	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	50%			Germantown	MD
"I'm so bitter today because I have worked too hard to keep this business going. It's just not fair."
Pelican Pete's	Restaurant	Not Yet	60%			Germantown	MD
Tommy Joe's Restaurant	Restruant	Not Yet	30%			Bethesda	MD
Nutshell Tavern	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		Biddeford	ME
Village Variety		Closed	100%			Fryeburg	ME
Grandma's	Restaraunt	Not Yet	33%			Cloquet	MN
Perkins	Restaraunt	Not Yet	26%			Duluth	MN
Aessa	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	35%		6	New York	NY
Argyle's EasyStreet Tavern	Tavern	Not Yet	12%			Cortland	NY
Athens Cafe	Restaurant	Not Yet	55%		10	Astoria	NY
Blessed Sacrament Church	Bingo	Not Yet	50%			Albany	NY
Brazen Head Pub	Tavern	Not Yet	40%			Monroe	NY
Brown Shanty	Tavern	Not Yet	20%		1	Watertown	NY
Champions Billiards Cafe	Brew Pub/Pool Hall	Not Yet	33%			Parkville	NY
Chili American Legion Post 1830	Private Club	Not Yet	70%			Scottsville	NY
Coleman's Irish Pub	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	19%		4	Syracuse	NY
Crossroads Steak House	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Kennedy	NY
Delmar Sportsman's Tavern	Tavern	Not Yet	30%		1	Massena	NY
"We had hoped...nonsmokers who haven't been frequenting taverns due to the smoke-filled air would make up for at least some of the financial loss. Unfortunately, at least in our place, this has most definitely not happened. Our sales are at an all time low"
Desperado's	Tavern	Not Yet	90%			Wallkill	NY
"I can count on my fingers the people who don't smoke who come in here. The regulars say they won't come."
Dodesters	Tavern	Not Yet	9%			Syracuse	NY
Eagle Beverage Company	Distributor	Not Yet	25%	N/A		Oswego	NY
"Deliveries to pubs and taverns have decreased substantially, greater than 25 percent."
Edigan's	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Binghamton	NY
End Zone	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	30%		1	Liverpool	NY
Euzkadi	Restaurant	Not Yet	50%			New York	NY
Fiddler's Green	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		New York	NY
We have just lost too many customers to this law, which I did not vote for, bar owners did not vote for, bartenders did not vote for, and the public did not vote for."
Finish Line	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	40%		2	Bellerose	NY
Fountain Bowl	Bowling Alley	Not Yet	40%	N/A	8	Jamestown	NY
Golden Rail Ale House	Tavern	Not Yet	75%			Newburgh	NY
Harry's Hanover Square	Bar/Restaraunt	Closed	100%	100		New York	NY
"Overnight, we lost 60 percent of our evening bar trade. For the bar, it was the difference in profit and loss. Sales of expensive cigars had been almost as important as the sales of Scotch" Harry's had been in business for more than thirty years
Holmes & Watson's	Tavern	Not Yet	30%			Troy	NY
Hotel McDonald	Hotel	Not Yet	70%			Bath	NY
Just One More	Tavern	Not Yet	30%			Bath	NY
Liberty Lanes	Bowling	Not Yet	27%			Camden	NY
Mama Lena's	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Binghamton	NY
Mama Lena's had been in business for more than 40 years.
Mel's Place	Tavern	Not Yet	78%	100%		Falconer	NY
"When we bought this place, we throught we were buying our American Dream. We ran it successfully for 10 years. Now the government is stripping us from making a living. "
Middleport Inn	Bar/Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%	13	Middleport	NY
"This damn state really knows how to kill people's dreams."
Millennium	Restaurant	Not Yet	40%		3	New York	NY
Nibsy's Pub	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	18%			Syracuse	NY
Rafferty's	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	35%		2	Syracuse	NY
Richard's Ole Timer	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	17%		1	Clay	NY
Roesch's Tavern	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%	5	New York	NY
This had been a family business for more than a century
Salingers	Tavern	Not Yet	35%		2	Rochester	NY
Sevens Bar	Tavern	Not Yet	10%			Malone	NY
Shamrock Tavern	Tavern	Not Yet	50%			Oswego	NY
"It's not right. Our livelihood is being taken away."
Slade	Restaurant	Not Yet	40%			New York	NY
Slick Willie's	Billiard Hall	Not Yet	25%			Tonawanda	NY
Stumble Inn	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		Champlain	NY
Taylor's Trackside	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	50%			Remsen	NY
Temple Israel	Bingo	Not Yet	50%			Albany	NY
According to Herb Holland, some of the regulars told volunteers that they would abstain from playing bingo, to protest the smoking ban. He hasn't seen them since.
The Lilly Pad	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		Falconer	NY
The Lodge at the Lake Inc	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	50%		1	Broadalbin	NY
The Loft	Tavern	Not Yet	30%			Frewsburg	NY
"Our town has no attractions to draw in outsiders. We have only locals to rely on as patrons and 95% of them smoke. It will be worse when the snow sets in."
The Roadhouse	Tavern	Not Yet	40%			Brewster	NY
Thompson Road Tavern	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	25%			Syracuse	NY
Village Tavern	Bar/Restaurant	Not Yet	10%			Marcellus	NY
Bliss' Steak Ranch	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100%		Eugene	OR
Closed after 32 years in business
Doc's Pad	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%	24	Eugene	OR
"Let's face it, the economy is horrible. But for us specifically, the smoking ban was the knockout punch." The Olsen family had owned Doc's for 16 years.
Max's Tavern	Tavern	Closed	100%	100%		Eugene	OR
The Peacock	Tavern	Not Yet	40%			Corvallis	OR
Connor owned the Peacock for years - and says it was the ban that caused him to sell the bar. He says business gross fell from $1.5 million in 1997, the year before the ban went into effect, to $900,000 last year.
China One	Restaurant	Closed	100%	100		Round Rock	TX

CAN=Canada

If your business has been harmed by a smoking ban, or if you know of one that has been, please let us know. If possible, have the owner contact us. Newspaper articles are also welcome. Please include the URL. .

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Last Update: Saturday, November 01, 2003

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[Gabz]

I abhor that "level-playing field" claim.


When the smoking ban was introduced in Delaware an amendment was added exempting the bars and taverns. The (so-called)Restaurant Association were fighting both the ban and that amendment. They wanted a "level playing field" with the bars and taverns.

That torqued a lot of people off for various reasons - the main one being that the retaurants already had major advantages over the bars in that they could admit people under 21 and be open on Sundays. And many of them are nothing more than sports bars and music venues that have both a restaurant and liquor license.

A level playing field is the free market at work.

[Great Dane]

#44... No need to save your seat, no one would dare take it. :-}

[Revolver]

Both of my friend's parents worked at Laurel Lanes in San Luis Obispo (no. 3 on SheLions post) when the county banned smoking in all business except the tobacco shops. Her parents soon lost both their jobs when the bowling alley went out of business because of the smoking ban. Since the ban, the two or so remaining bowling alleys in this county have become unhealthier than ever before. Without customers, the areas have become seedy, run-down commercial voids.

Every time the anti smoking subject is brought up I remember going with my Mom to the voting polls for the first time. Before we left, we started reviewing the propositions and discusing our opinions. One pending prop was for a county-wide business smoking ban. (this was in San Luis Obispo about 4 years before it finally passed.) My mother said how much she hated having a dinner ruined by second-hand smoke, and she was all for the ban. My Dad spoke up from across the room and said he too loathes the smell of someone else's smoke when he sits down to eat, but then stated the unarguable fact that all these laws every year add up,(ie..California) with every law, we become less free. This has always stuck with me, and is probably one of the main reasons I have become republican.

If only there was a way to calculate the exact date we will lose all our freedom at our current rate of new and amended laws, people would look deeper. Too many people vote without seeing the big picture. Is it worth losing more freedom because something may be annoying or bothersome. Think about any vices, hobbies or any pleasure you may partake in, chances are that at least one of them may be frowned upon or unhealthy to others.

I think most would agree, being stuck behind city bus spewing highly toxic exhaust in traffic is a thousand times worst than smelling tobacco smoke. Should we ban diesel engines, including mass transit and highway freight transportation? Or what about the reeking smell of that homeless guy standing in front of you at McDonalds? Should he be banned from buying a cup of coffee? Fined?

We as a nation design our highways with 100 mile detours because it is deemed stressful for the Africanized spotted stink beetle. Yet it is completely unreasonable to avoid certain establishments where the majority of the customers are smokers. When I don't like something, I just try to avoid it, and when I can't when I can't, too bad for me, that's life.

If banning smoking is good for business, business owners would have chosen to disallow smoking years ago.

[Great Dane]

You are mighty good at ranting, I won't bother reading your posts again.

[Great Dane]

My point is that I have a large economic impact to restaurants as a non-smoker

So because you have money to spend, we should be banished, it may interest you to know that a lot of smokers have money as well, as evident of the losses to the hospitality industry.

[TexasCowboy]

"Could it be coincidental that maybe smoker can't afford $4.00 a pack cigs and $4.00 beers and that is why a bar goes under?"

If you really believe that then you don't understand smokers and drinkers.
Everyone has priorities in life. To a smoker the cigarettes are a priority.
He or she may not be able to afford that new car right now, but they will find a way to afford that weekly carton of cigarettes.

"I spent $20,000.00 in restaurants in 2002."

Who really gives a rat's patootie what you spent in restaurants?
You could spend a million and not make a dent in what those restaurants are losing in smoker's business.

"Let's suppose that I have TB and any exhale from my lungs could cause you to get TB, do I have a property right to sit behind you and cough? Do you have to sit there and be exposed?"

That is too ridiculous to deserve comment.

[Gabz]

English's in Salisbury has a smoking section. I know this because I eat there now instead of the one in Delmar when I am on my way to Dover.

You eat at places with buffet's but are worried about a little bit of tobacco smoke????? Your priorities regarding health issues are a bit warped. You don't know if the guy ging through the buffet ahead of you that was breathing all over the food has TB, do you? Or if the other guy washed his hands before touvhing anything.

Since you're so familiar with the business along the Maryland/Delaware line, walk into the Bar at Pomeroys and asked Mrs. Pomeroy if her business has picked up at all. Not her package store business, her bar business. Talk to any bar owner that has a business close to the Maryland line. Many of the smaller ones in out of the way places are no longer enforcing the ban because it was killing their business. I know this because I spent more than a week in the spring going into every single one in Kent and Sussex county picking up post cards to legislators about amending the ban. And while I was in them I spoke with managers and owners and waitresses and bartenders who had all seen their tips drastically drop and have their hours cut and co-workers laid off.

As I said I have nothing against any business going smoke free by the owners choice or business decision based on customer request. My problem is the government imposed bans on businesses that saw no need to go that way based upon their clientele. What problem do you have with that??

[SheLion]

I agree. We should all bend over, spread our cheeks, and compromise away our private property rights. That is certainly the solution.

Hahaaaaaa My thoughts exactly Chad. BUT being the "lady" that I am, I wouldn't DARE write that. But I thank you for writing it. Men can get away with stuff like that you know.

[SheLion]

In that case, this list needs to go to the employees of these types of businesses. They may be the only people who might have a say in these situations.

A lot of us are burning up our printers printing this out so we can GET it out around the city!

[SheLion]

Nice article. BUT, it is you're or you are, not your.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Now, do "I" look like Dave Hitt???

[cherinfl]

Thanks for posting this info!!! I live in Florida and restaurants/bars are shutting down daily!!!

Everyone out there, don't forget about Bowling Alleys, Beer Distributors, and Food Distributors!!
They are complaining big time of how there sales are down!!!!!!!

[SheLion]

Those who don't smoke vote more than those who smoke

Of COURSE. You figure that there are 23-30% that smoke in each state. Of course, if the smoking ban goes to a vote, we are ALWAYS outnumbered. The anti's have the general non-smoking public brain washed. The non-smoking public have NO idea what this is doing to the economy.

Smokers across the U.S. STILL outnumber the AARP AND the NRA!

[SheLion]

Bump. Keep up the good work, She.

Thank you and I will. But believe me, there are a lot of people working just as hard as me if not harder. A LOT of us! And even though some don't post in here, they still read. We have a LOT of lurkers........

But I am just one member of a VERY large group! I just love to type more then most. hehe!

[hotshot]

I have waterfront property in Bethel on Broad Creek and have closed two commercial Rt 13 and Stien Hwy businesses in Seaford due to idiots in Delaware Government. I refused to pay to put "improved curbed entrances" on the public right a way at my expense because the entrances I had were fine for 20 years. Delaware would not give me a auto dealers license until I installed the "new improved entrance". So I took a multimillion dollar business to business friendly Florida causing a loss of income and jobs to Delaware. I no longer pay any taxes except property taxes to Delaware. So my anti smoking has nothing to do with property rights.

[SheLion]

Anti-smoking laws are not about smoking. The intent of all smoking/tobacco laws is to get someone elected, or someone reelected to a local or state political office. Nothing more. Those who don't smoke vote more than those who smoke.

Yes! All about politics, you can bet on it. And if it's so damn bad for us, why are they restricting and controlling smokers instead of just banning the stuff! Makes you wonder, doesn't it?!

[CSM]

Rant on, just keep avoiding the question. What is your answer?

Now, I will address your points:

"My point is that I have a large economic impact to restaurants as a non-smoker. I spent $20,000.00 in restaurants in 2002."

So what. Look at the article again and you will see, when the monetary loss data is available, that your measly contribution pales in comparison to the smoking populations contribution. In addition, you will split that contribution between many restaurants. That negates the impact (that means you have zero impact) on making up for the loss of a major market of the business owners.

"Could it be coincidental that maybe smoker can't afford $4.00 a pack cigs and $4.00 beers and that is why a bar goes under?"

Before the ban the smoker was able to buy both. After the ban they can still afford to buy both. Of course, they can afford to buy twice as much alcohol now that they drink at home and invite their friends over. By your reasoning you think it is great that people get together, drink twice as much as they could afford previously then all head home. Yep, this is great for society.

"Use equitable data for suppositions before distortions."

How much more equitable can the data be? This was a study of revenue prior to the ban, then revenue after the ban. If it were a study on consumer habits, then their spending habits would be of interest. In this case, the business' revenue is the data of interest.

"Let's suppose that I have TB and any exhale from my lungs could cause you to get TB, do I have a property right to sit behind you and cough? Do you have to sit there and be exposed?"

Would you be willing to give me a visual hint that you have TB? Think, ashtray on table and lit cigs in other customers hands. If you wore a sign (think foxworthy) then you would be accurately portraying what you would be exposing others to. It would then be up to the owner to allow you on his property or not. I would have the choice to leave or take the risk.

The difference is that you present a case that carries risk in comparison to you being offended and not liking SHS. I have an idea, we should liscense all people and force them to be tested once a day for any illnesses. If they can not show they are worthy to interact with others, therefore presenting risk to society, then they will not be allowed to leave their home. How much government involvement do you need to make yourself feel "safe"?

[SheLion]

Strap your three kids in the back seat, Mom and Dad light up, close the windows and enjoy!!!

HOT SHOT HOT SHOT
WHERE'S THE BUCKSHOT?!!!!!!!

[SheLion]

Could I get a link to the info in that post? Thanks!

Which one??

[wattsmag2]

Sorry, I could not help myself hehehehe

[Phantom Lord]

Post #22