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Born Against
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On the economic impacts of smoking bans: there have been several peer-reviewed studies published that have showed that the only impact of bans, if any, has been to increase profits of restaurants and bars in NY, Florida, Texas, and elsewhere. Here's a popular article on the subject:
(no link available)
Quote:
SECTION: Metro News; Pg. 5E
HEADLINE: LEGISLATURE 2004: Smoking ban studies show restaurants unhurt
BYLINE: CLINT WILLIAMS
SOURCE: AJC
BODY:
The prospect of a statewide public smoking ban has raised fears of lost business for Georgia restaurants and bars. But studies of other communities' experience indicate that once the smoke clears, little changes.
The examples of Florida and New York, which enacted statewide bans last year, seem to support those analyses.
"In the short run, nothing happens and, in the long run, these smoking bans seem to be good for the hospitality industry," said Stanton A. Glantz, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco and author of several studies tracking taxable sales receipts to measure the economic impact of public smoking bans.
In a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February, there was no drop in total restaurant or bar revenues in El Paso after a citywide smoking ban went into effect on Jan. 2, 2002. The CDC and Texas Department of Health analyzed sales tax and mixed-beverage tax collections during the 12 years preceding and the year after the smoking ban was implemented.
In Georgia, a statewide smoking ban for indoor public areas, including restaurants and bars, passed the state Senate this month but is stalled in a House committee chaired by Rep. Alan Powell (D-Hartwell), a smoker who says the bill goes too far in regulating private business. Smoking ban proponents last week added the language of the smoking bill to another measure, giving it new life.
The state has a patchwork of smoking bans enacted by county and city governments, including DeKalb and Gwinnett counties and Snellville, Grayson and Loganville. Such spotty regulation has created an uneven playing field for restaurants, say Georgia restaurant industry officials.
In New York, restaurant revenue and employment has gone up since a statewide smoking ban went into effect in July, said Rick Sampson, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association. "But that doesn't mean 10 restaurants in Buffalo aren't suffering because of this," Sampson said.
Indeed, 76 percent of bar and nightclub owners surveyed last fall by the New York Nightlife Association said they had seen the number of customers drop off. Glantz said such a survey is little more than an opinion poll not supported by hard facts such as sales tax collections.
Florida's smoking ban, approved by more than 70 percent of voters, also took effect in July.
"Honestly, it hasn't made a bit of difference, other than people not lingering anymore," said Thalicia Shuman, manager of a Waffle House in Panama City.
The fact that patrons don't sit around smoking while nursing a cup of coffee may be good for business, she said, freeing up tables for hungry customers.
Seating customers is easier since the smoking ban, said Cindy Rooks, manager of a Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q in Panama City. Many customers would avoid the smoking section of the restaurant even if there were plenty of empty tables, she said.
Because smoking is still allowed on patios, the ban has had no effect at the Hooters in downtown Fort Lauderdale, said manager Will Sheldon.
"If it's done anything, if people are looking for a place where they can eat and smoke, it's helped our business," said Sheldon, explaining that 80 percent of the seats at his restaurant are outdoors.
The Georgia legislation exempts businesses with no more than seven employees and bars that receive more than 80 percent of their revenue from alcohol. Hotels and motels are allowed to designate up to 20 percent of their guest rooms for smoking. Retail tobacco stores, private and semi-private rooms in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and outdoor workplace areas also are exempt. The bill was introduced by Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton), a physician.
Smoking in restaurants is banned in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, New York and Utah, according to Americans for Nonsmokers Rights.
Fears of a drop-off in business because of a smoking ban are overblown, said Glantz.
"To say people will stop going to restaurants because they can't smoke for 45 minutes is ridiculous."
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