I don't know if its true but here is one report...http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8306867.htm

Posted on Mon, Mar. 29, 2004

New York City's Smoking Ban Helps Business, Study Says

By Lisa L. Colangelo, Daily News, New York Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Mar. 29 - The city ban on smoking in restaurants and bars is good for the lungs -- and for business, according to a Health Department report released yesterday.

A year after the controversial law went into effect, business in restaurants and bars is up 8.7 percent, according to the report.

The study -- done by the same department that advocated the ban in the first place -- compared tax receipts, employment and business openings and closings in 2002 and 2003.

"The bottom line is that New York City a year later is a healthier place to work, eat and drink," said Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden. "And 150,000 people don't have to go into work every day and be smoked on by other people."

Of the 22,003 establishments inspected from April 2003 to February 2004, 97 percent were deemed "smoke-free." Inspectors saw no ashtrays at these locations, no one was spotted smoking and cigarette warning signs were hung properly.

The state Liquor Authority awarded 1,416 new licenses in 2003 in New York City, compared to 1,361 in 2002, according to the report.

Mayor Bloomberg risked heavy political fallout when he pressed the ban, which continues to anger smokers who resent being sent to the sidewalk for a cigarette.

Despite the rosy numbers, many bar and club owners complain business has suffered.

Using 2002 -- when the economy plummeted after the 9/11 terror attacks -- as a baseline for comparison is unfair, bar owners say.

"Why don't they just compare job stats to 1929 -- it's about as relevant," said David Rabin of the New York Nightlife Association, co-owner of Lotus. "Two thousand two was probably the worst year to compare to in 20 years. And they simply refuse to separate out bars, clubs and taverns [from restaurants]. They know numbers are bad there."

Rabin said bar and club employees have taken second jobs to make up for lost tip income.

"Is that an increase in jobs?" he quipped.

Frieden said opponents falsely predicted doom and gloom when they warned employment and revenue numbers would drop 30 percent to 50 percent.

"They were wrong," Frieden said. "That doesn't mean there aren't businesses that are hurting for a whole variety of reasons. Around the country, stand-alone bars are not doing well."