Revenues up 9% in New York Bars

Fox News | 3-29-04 | unknown

[at bay]

Fox news reported that bar revenues are up 9% over a year ago when the smoking ban went into effect. Apparently the "If I can't have my way I'll stay home" crowd of puffers were outnumbered by "Now that the air has cleared I think I'll stop in for a drink."

Since these numbers are supported by public tax revenue records, there's n o doubt all the "chimney chicken little/ sky is falling" scenarios proved to be just whiners blowing smoke.

[at bay]

Guess I put a little opining in the above slot, when it belongs here. I'm going to keep countering the smoke and mirrors routine some of the chimney people engage in herein.

The excesses of the whiner's responses remind me of a fortune cookie "Strong words denote a weak cause."

No doubt, homey.

[ClintonBeGone]

what do you think? More propoganda from the smoking nazis?

[eastforker]

Or, one could say that since smokers can not smoke, this law is causing more alcoholics since they are drinking more than before when they could smoke. Instead of dying of lung cancer now their livers will rot out, need to ban the alcohol they will be screeming next.

[JimVT]

Fox news reported that bar revenues are up 9% over a year ago

Did they list a source?

[CGASMIA68]

B S

[need_a_screen_name]

Oh really?

NYC Cig-Ban Burns

February 16, 2004 -- KAPPA Beta Phi, whose motto is "we sing, we dance," should now be changed to "we sing, we dance, we smoke" - after recent published reports outed the esteemed society's blatant disregard for Mayor Bloomberg's silly smoking ban, and in his presence no less.

We should fear for Bloomberg. After all, by virtue of his own reasoning, the mayor put his life and well-being on the line, by subjecting himself to what he sees as the detrimental and life-threatening effects of that group's second-hand smoke - and from cigars, to boot!

Bloomberg, remember, proclaimed that such smoke kills up to 1,000 people a year, in New York City alone.

Fortunately for him, however, there is not one shred of scientific evidence to back that claim (or for that matter one signed death certificate anywhere that cites the cause of death as second-hand smoke).

On the other hand, the smoking ban that went into effect last March has brought about much distress to our industry and those who work in it.

In a recent statement by the New York City chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA), Executive Vice-President Chuck Hunt noted that "the city's bar, tavern and nightlife operations have suffered mightily as a result of the smoking ban."

In a membership survey the group conducted in November and December of 2003, 76 percent of the respondents reported a decline of 25 percent or more in bar sales and 15 percent or more in food sales.

* It is the first acknowledgement from NYSRA that the law hurts the hospitality industry. Before its passage, NYSRA had supported the law.

* It clearly refutes the mayor's much-hyped assertion that people would dine out and drink more as a result of the ban.

The ban also has resulted in an epidemic of quality-of-life complaints that have maligned our trade ever further. Ironically, we warned our political leaders of these issues before the ban became law, but to no avail.

(snip)

-----------------------------

Laura Miller, the Dallas mayor, also pushed through one of these idiotic smoking bans. Good for business? Yea right! People should at least be able to smoke in a bar. A bar isn't a church, for crying out loud. You gotta love a place like New Orleans, where people can slurp oysters, drink, and smoke all at the same time if they want to....

[knarf]

"what do you think? More propoganda from the smoking nazis?"

Personally, as a smoker ... I think the nazi's are winning this one.

I know all the data, and I've tried to quit many times. The only answer I can come up with for not quitting is a combination of desire and enjoyment.

That being said, I have no problem with being put in a smoking only place, but I resent to all get out, the law mandating what I choose to do.

Where's the anti alcohol crowd?

Maybe I should open up a smoking bar and ban alcohol.

[HighWheeler]

I was listening to the local FM news commie talking about this story on his top of the hour news. It was a hoot while he tried to explain the increase in revenue was only because of the smoking ban, to spite the "sagging economy".

What an idiot.

[Lee'sGhost]

"Apparently the "If I can't have my way I'll stay home" crowd of puffers were outnumbered by "Now that the air has cleared I think I'll stop in for a drink.""

I think this is a bit off. No numbers to back it, but here's how I think it shakes out.

A relatively small number of smokers TOTALLY quit going out to eat/drink -- whatever. Most say, "this sucks, but I still want to got out and eat and drink, so I guess I'll deal with it."

ALL of the non-smokers who would not go out and deal with the smoke say, "ALL RIGHT!." Bottom line, net gain for business.

[microgood]

Since these numbers are supported by public tax revenue records

Not sure I'd believe anything coming out of Bloomberg's administration, might be like Clinton's GDP figures for 2000.

[stinkypew]

The effect on "business" in general is irrelevant. The simple fact is that no one was putting a gun to your head and making you go to a place which allowed smoking.

You gonna make me start eating healthy too, mom?

[Miss Marple]

Could be. Plus smokers who want to stop for one drink order munchies to put off the craving until they leave the bar.

[CGASMIA68]

"that bar revenues" All bars?What Bars?Whose Bars?Geme a friging break...this is crap....down on Atlantic Ave in WPB Cnty Fla they were shuting down because of lost revenue.....Smoking and booze go hand and hand.....sorry its a fact of life(or death)

[Gabz]

You obviously did not watch Cabuto's program (there was a substitute this afternoon) and hear the bar worker who's personal income has been down 50%; the vending company owner who's revenues are down between 20 and 35% depending upon the location; or the bar and restaurant owner from Austin, Texas that not only helped unelect the Mayor who put the stupid thing into effect, but got it reversed.......

You want a smoke-free bar or restaurant, talk to the owner or open your own....keep the government out of the entire issue.

[Kay Ludlow]

So there was a 25% decline in bar sales after the ban went into effect over a year ago (from nasn's post), and now there's been a 9% increase from that abysmal level (from the original post).

Hmmm - sounds like it's still a business problem to me, not a cause for celebration. A net decline of 16% from 2 years ago would be the death knell for many businesses.

[BikerNYC]

It is so freakin' nice to come home after a night out and not have your clothes smell like a smokestack. I can honestly say I don't know one person who doesn't think this has done good things for the bar business.

[blackdog]

Market forces are a good thing. Smoking/no smoking is not exempt from the forces governing choice. Especially now that non smokers have a greater disposable income by not spending $10 per day on smokes.

[Gabz]

You're right - just more propaganda.

What everyone is ignoring is the fact that many taxes have increased in NYC during the same time as the smoking ban has been in effect......I'm surprised they are only reporting a 9% increase............it means things are even worse than they should be.

[CGASMIA68]

I don't know one person Need to expand that circle of friends a bit there Biker dude...Whats it a Honda Dream?

[finnman69]

I love it....the Baghdad Bob's of the smoking world will claim this is all a lie however.