Last week after work, we had a section "Happy Hour" at the Hotel on post.
Because it is Federal property, we were allowed to smoke in the bar.
Federal laws trump State laws, which was something I did not know.
I can't begin to tell you how strange it felt to walk in and actually see ash trays on the tables.
I have really gotten quite accustomed to NOT smoking while out for a few drinks, that it took me one hour to light up my one and only smoke in the bar that evening.
Hubby's work week is Sunday - Thursday and so Friday is "our" day and our date time while our daughter is in school.
After the smoking ban passed in Delaware we started driving to Maryland on Friday afternoons. It was only an added 5 minutes travel time compared to where we previously went, and was actually closer to the preschool our daughter was in. The owner told us how much her business had increased, and while she felt for the folks in Delaware and worked with some to oppose the ban, she couldn't help but be happy about it. Within 6 months her revenues had increased enough that she was able to fully fund (pay cash) for a bunch of renovations she had been wanting to do for ages.
I don't care what the "studies" the antis put out say about how mandatory smoke-free is good for business.......I've seen first hand how detrimental it is for local business. I've also been privy to the books of many of those places.
Smoker taxes or smoker bans - the results will be the same..........smokers will go elsewhere.