Posted on 08/02/2005 10:24:13 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
APPLETON (AP) - At Jokers Bar, the staff of eight has been laid off. Owner Tony Schaefer said he's now working the bar with his brother.
Schaefer is among many business owners still fuming a month after a ban on smoking at all indoor workplaces was enacted in this city.
The ban was approved by 56 percent of voters in an April 5 referendum and went into effect on July 1. Madison's similar smoking ban went into effect on the same day, although there was no referendum preceding it.
"We'll be closing up" if business doesn't improve, Schaefer said. "The sad thing is we don't even know if anyone would buy it."
Some say they have reason to fume.
Nearly three-quarters of the 64 businesses that responded to a request from the Appleton Post-Crescent reported sluggish sales in the past month, most from 10 to 40 percent lower compared with last July. Some reported sales off as much as 70 percent.
Many tavern owners in Madison have made similar complaints, and sympathetic members of the City Council have already tried once, unsuccessfully, to repeal the ban.
More than 30 tavern owners in Appleton have filed a lawsuit to repeal the ban, and the Common Council this month is expected to review a proposal that would exempt taverns and bar areas of restaurants, similar to a measure proposed statewide.
For now, sales are down 35 percent at Shark's Club Billiards Bar and Grill, owner Mitchell Roepke said.
"We're a blue-collar, working-class establishment and they're the smokers. ... I'm losing $11,000 in sales in July," Roepke said.
But Connie Olson, executive director of Community Action for Tobacco Free Living, a group that pushed for the ban, said some of the negative talk becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"All customers hear are bartenders complaining. Who wants to hear that?" Olson said. "They have to get past this personal vendetta. Don't do that to customers. They need to promote their businesses as smoke-free."
Restaurants reported faring better than bars.
Family restaurants like Applebee's and Perkins, and upscale places like Black and Tan, where smoking had previously been allowed at the bar, saw no ill effect in their July revenues.
At The Bar in downtown Appleton, regular lunchtime diner Carl Schuh of Black Creek compared before and after.
"It's cleaner, fresher and airier," he said.
Several businesses said they were boosting advertising and offering specials to encourage customers to come back, while still lobbying officials for a reversal on the ban.
cigarette taxes are being used to subsidize your local governments. Why don't they outlaw the sale of cigarettes-easy, they don't want to lose the tax revenue. I resent subsidizing you.
It is a form of ED being utilized by the large corporate chain places like Applebee's, TGIF, Ruby Tuesday's, etc.......they know they will eventually be the only game in town.
What they (the chains) don't realize is that their liquor licenses are next, followed shortly by their menu selections...........the smoking bans, MADD, and the food police are all being funded by the same front groups posing as "health" concerns.
"I think your argument about taxes being paid out to fund medical needs of smokers should belong on its own thread. This thread is about smoking bans, not taxes"
You are correct - this is a taxing issue. But when the smoke clears, I know we all will agree that
1. Private enterprises can do what they want to
2. Government should get out of health care
"And we live in a democracy, where power prevails."
You obviously haven't spent enough time on FR. You should start by reading a few founding documents.
So call down the Admin Moderator because someone used the word idiot? Cop calling rat bastard. How's that, AH?
Are you fu**ing kidding me?
Trying to tie this issue to the Kelo decision?!
Go away.
I realize you are correct...........but while I may not be able to convince the freeper koolaid drinkers - there are other folks out there that may pick up on some of the infomration.
"So why aren't you campaigning instead for medicare not to treat all smoking-related diseases? I'll support you all the way!
Or are you just blowing smoke up our collective skirts?"
Not to skirt the issue, but the trend is in that direction. People are responsible for their health, not the government. And I thank you for your support.......
Direct Democracy: Two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for dinner.
You are absolutely correct, Gabz. I know that you are even more well-informed than the average Joe and Jane on this topic.
Yes, the forest must be in the way, because I find this topic to be so clearly "black and white". There is no inbetween on this issue. A person either believes in private property rights or they don't. Period. Smoking is a second-hand issue (excuse the pun).
The nonsmokers have every right to open a bar, or any other business of their choice and ban smoking within their establishment. What these special interest groups have done is to take away the rights of everyone else; both bar owners and smokers.
I don't like junk food, and especially dislike "fast food chains", but I would never try to form a special interest group and attempt to shut them down, or force them to only serve healthy food to their customers. That is one right we still have. We have the right to pick and choose which businesses we will cater to. If a person doesn't like bars that allow patrons to smoke, then don't go there!
Ahhh, it's just so simple. Commonsense, where'd it go? sigh
You resent subsidizing my local government, and I resent subsidizing your health care.
Even.
My liver is doing well. Thank you for asking.
How's yours?
"Thus it went from a Minneapolis City smoking ban to a Hennepin County ban, because it would be “unfair” for the people to have a choice. Liberal Totalitarianism at it’s finest!"
Yes, and celebrated by many FReepers, not necessarily limited to this thread. Convenient conservatisme, the hallmark of the modern Republican.
"Cop calling rat bastard."
I don't remember calling you that.
"You are correct - this is a taxing issue. But when the smoke clears, I know we all will agree that
1. Private enterprises can do what they want to
2. Government should get out of health care"
Now THAT cleared the air. LOL I do not disagree with either of those two points and I doubt many FReepers do either. :)
Boy, you like exaggerrating more than just a little bit, don't you?
I eat healthy food. I'll send you a copy of my diet, and you must adhere to it. You must also engage in whatever exercise regimen I choose for you. You must eliminate alcohol, saturated fat, and chocolate from your diet. After all, I'm being taxed to pay for your healthcare. You might choose to pay for your own healthcare, but that's beside the point. I'm still being taxed in case you need government healthcare. So you must follow my rules.
Um-hmm...and if nobody smokes, everybody's gonna live forever!!!
Huh?
They diminish the value, and are most assuredly a taking.
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