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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[cinFLA]

• No Economic Impact: Researchers studied the quality and funding sources of 97 studies on the economic impact of smoke-free policies in the hospitality industry that were commissioned by the tobacco industry or organizations not associated with the tobacco industry. They concluded that all of the well-designed studies report that smoke-free restaurant and bar laws have no impact or a positive impact on sales or employment.

[cinFLA]

Hey, don't look for the neo-coms to post anything bad about their hero, Soros....

You've got it all wrong. Soros is xrp's hero.

[xrp]

You've got it all wrong. Soros is cinFLA's hero.

[Gabz]

I am giving you real data - the fact that it is not posted on the web does not make it any less factual.

The fact you choose to believe that which is printed in agenda driven media as opposed to the real life experiences of businesses harmed by these ordinances and laws because the media is on the web and the real life isn't says much about you.

[cinFLA]

Studies say policy doesn't affect restaurant sales

BY JOHN P. MCDERMOTT
Of The Post and Courier Staff
A stack of economic impact studies have reached similar conclusions: Overall, bar and restaurant owners do not see a decline in sales when smoking is banned in their establishments.


WADE SPEES/STAFF
Dave Snyder lights up Monday night in AC's Bar and Grill on King Street in downtown Charleston.

In a 1998 report, for example, researchers examined tax data from certain North Carolina counties that have passed public smoking bans.

"Conclusion: Smoke-free ordinances do not affect restaurant sales, even in the No. 1 tobacco-producing state in the U.S.," according to literature from Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.

Other studies found the same trend in places ranging from New York City to the state of California to West Lake Hills, Texas.

Such findings have become one of the key arguments by supporters of a new movement who want to ban smoking in public places in the city of Charleston.

"It is good for business," said tobacco industry whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand, founder of Smoke-Free Kids, who kicked off the effort last month.

In a revival of an effort that failed in 1999, Charleston's latest anti-smoking crusade appears to be off to a strong start. Wigand's organization received a $2 million check last month from a group of trial lawyers, including locally based Ness Motley, to help fund this and other anti-smoking proposals. At the Feb. 24 public forum, speakers were applauded for their efforts, and several attendees asked how to keep the movement going.

A few dissenters at the meeting spoke out against the idea of a ban. But even they allowed that second-hand smoke may be harmful.

About 60 municipalities and three states -- California, Delaware and Florida -- have enacted ordinances that restrict smoking in public places, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.

In California, the ban has been well-received, according to a study by the state Department of Health Services.

The agency said 59 percent of bar customers favored smoking restrictions for bars, casinos and taverns in 1998, the year the law went into effect. By 2000, approval among such patrons had climbed to 73 percent. Meanwhile, sales taxes from California restaurants and bars rose.

A handful of area restaurant owners, including Rick Widman of Circa 1886, already prohibit smokers from lighting up.

"As far I'm concerned, they can go outside," Widman said.

Widman, who also owns several downtown inns, said smokers make up a shrinking minority at his businesses.

"When we opened the King's Courtyard Inn 20 years ago, my guess is that smokers represented 30 percent of our business," he said "They don't represent 2 percent anymore."

When Mondo's Delite opened on Folly Road five years ago, the owners decided to go smoke-free because of space constraints. They have not lifted the restriction, even though their restaurant has been enlarged, said co-owner Josh Montalto.

It has not hurt business, he said.

"People are pretty much used to it, and we can accommodate smokers outside," he said. "More than anything, people really appreciate the policy."

Hospitality Management Group Inc., the owner of Magnolias, Blossom Cafe and Cypress, allows cigarette smoking in its bar areas only, said Tom Parsell, president. "We don't see it as a major issue ... and we really haven't changed our thinking on it much," he said.

Still, he would not be opposed to an overall ban. "We wouldn't have much of a problem with that, and I don't think it would affect our business because we're a restaurant first and a bar second," Parsell said. "If something enhances the food experience, we're more concerned with that. I think we can live with it."

[xrp]

You must have missed this one or you can't read English.

[Beck_isright]

"You've got it all wrong. Soros is xrp's hero."

Prove it.
You advocate the abolishment of the concept of private property.
Soros agrees.

You advocate government management of all business, regardless of the type of enterprise.
Soros agrees.

You advocate that science is to be used as a political tool, to enhance bureaucratic power.
Soros agrees.

It seems to 99% of the posters here that you agree with the neo-coms and Soros than with the Hamiltonians. I would love for you to recite your deep, overwhelming knowledge of the Federalist Papers and recite for all of us, the intent of the founding fathers to impose all aspects of government control over all individuals and business operations. Please, enlighten us all with your NEA education some more.

[cinFLA]

The fact you choose to believe that which is printed in agenda driven media as opposed to the real life experiences of businesses harmed by these ordinances and laws because the media is on the web and the real life isn't says much about you.

Please post the restaurant revenues prior to and since the ban.

[Beck_isright]

It's safe to assume that cin's data is still based upon his numerous visits to the Kountry Kitchen Buffet or whatever hole in the wall he visits. On behalf of the state of Florida, again, I apologize again for Palm Beach County (we can't give it away or sell it to Fidel), the moron's smoking ban on private property, and of course, Palm Beach's favorite resident, cin.

[xrp]

Please post the restaurant revenues prior to and since the ban.

Please answer the question: Do you think that government has the right to tell private business owners how to run their business(es)?

[cinFLA]

The latest evidence comes from Zagat, which provides restaurant and leisure guides for locations around the world and is one of the most respected authorities on the hospitality industry. The just-released 2004 Zagat New York City Restaurant Survey of nearly 30,000 New York restaurant-goers found that 23 percent of respondents said they are eating out more often because of the city’s smoke-free workplace law, which includes restaurants and bars, while only four percent said they are eating out less. Zagat surveyed 29,361 New York City restaurant-goers from May through mid-July, after the smoking ban went into effect at the end of March.


Contrary to pessimistic predictions by opponents of the smoke-free law, Zagat is extremely upbeat about prospects for New York City’s restaurant business. The survey finds that New York restaurant-goers are eating out and spending more than they were two years ago and restaurant openings are far outpacing closings. Zagat’s press release concludes, “The city’s recent smoking ban, far from curbing restaurant traffic, has given it a major lift. Meanwhile, openings are perking up, closings dropping, and service complaints continue to trend downward… What’s not to feel good about?”

[Beck_isright]

Yada, yada, yada....
Fortunately for me, the bar owners I know encourage smoking so your kind would never be welcomed there.

[Beck_isright]

I'll repeat his answer in every other smoking thread:

"yes, government does".

So why are we keeping this thread alive for this neo-com?

[cinFLA]

It seems to 99% of the posters here that you agree with the neo-coms and Soros than with the Hamiltonians. I would love for you to recite your deep, overwhelming knowledge of the Federalist Papers and recite for all of us, the intent of the founding fathers to impose all aspects of government control over all individuals and business operations. Please, enlighten us all with your NEA education some more.

Seems you are confused betweent the Federal powers and the state and local powers. Better try again.

[cinFLA]

So why are we keeping this thread alive for this neo-com?

So I can keep posting facts while y'all just rant and ramble! :-)

[Gabz]

I don't disagree that there is a high rate of failure in the bar/restaurant business. But when a place has been going great for a number of years and has a sudden drop following such a draconian move as a smoking ban, a thinking person will make the connection.

that has become so obvious in various localities around the county where a city has banned smoking, their businesses get hurt, so they seek a county ordinance, and then whe the county has a problem they start seeking statewide - all at the instigation of the antis.

My only knowledge of what is going on in NYC is from the press reports and what I am told by friends and family in and out of the hospitality industry there (I moved from NYC 21 years ago)


I have no idea if PM is planting fictitious stories in NYC or not. It may have happened in 95.

I do know that it is not happening in Delaware, if anything PM had a hand in getting the ban being passed by their absolute refusal of any assistance to the grass roots efforts to fight it. The same goes for the rest of the companies. Do I have documentation to back that information up? No I don't - you are going to have to take my word for it (which you never seem to do) that I spoke with representatives of most of the companies, as did many of the bar and restaurant owners and were basically told we were on our own.

You may be right about no 50% drop in a particular place in NYC - but I know of many places in Delaware where it did occur.

[Beck_isright]

"Seems you are confused betweent the Federal powers and the state and local powers. Better try again."

Your ignorance of history and the writings of our founding fathers is only superceeded by your ignorance period. Why aren't you getting 5 star reviews on Du is the only question I really have. Rational, factual and intelligent debate with a neo-com like you is impossible.

[cinFLA]

yet he doesn't bother to post on any of the Soros related threads that have been hitting FR lately!

LIAR! I've posted on EVERY Soros thread I have seen today!

[Beck_isright]

"So I can keep posting facts socialist rants while y'all just rant and ramble! :-)"

The preceding quote was edited to keep FR, fair and balanced, and accurate.

[Gabz]

How much are YOU paid to say the things you say????

I wish I was paid. In fact now that my daughter has started school, I'm looking for a job.

It's a shame that I have ethics, because I know that if I was willing, I could get a job with Repace's company or many of the other organizations getting millions of $$$$ a year to try to beat down smokers.