[SheLion]

“This will hopefully keep some of our restaurants from going out of business,” said Hollis, R-Metairie.

So they DO recognize that smoking bans are very bad for a private business!

[SheLion]

The land of parties. Go figure!

[Skooz]

As a Louisiana resident who frequents restaurants with my family, it will be nice to finally be able to go out to dinner and not be assaulted by other peoples' smoky excrement. Non-smoking areas are a joke because the excrement invariably wafts through the whole restaurant anyway.

On the other hand, what the heck business is it of the government to disallow smoking in PRIVATE establishments? This is clearly a matter for the market, NOT government, to decide.

Property rights, what few we have left, anyway, are slowly but surely being wiped away by government nannies. And once they are gone, they will never return.

[moonman]

This is the beginning of the end for smokers. No way does anti-smoking groups settle for this for more than a year before the next step in banning bars, hotels and any public gathering areas.

[Vectorian]

To decide whether a smoking ban is bad for business, one must look at the example of Ireland - possibly the hardest drinking and smoking country in the world to see if business has been adversely affected by the ban that has been in place for some time now. The actual fact of the matter is that bar and restaurant trade has reduced as the majority who don't smoke are put off visiting establishments polluted by the minority who smoke.

'Ireland's Office of Tobacco Control website indicates that "An evaluation of the official hospitality sector data shows there has been no adverse economic effect from the introduction of this measure (the March 2004 national ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, etc). Bar retail sales in volume terms have increased during the last three-month period (year-on-year) following a four-year decline. The numbers employed in this sector in the first quarter of this year have increased to 23,200 – up 1,400 from the previous quarter. This represents the most significant quarterly increase in employment since the second quarter of 2002." [13] Thus, even in a country with a relatively high percentage of smokers, the smoking ban did not seem to have a negative effect on business in bars or restaurants.

According to the 2004 Zagat Survey, which polled nearly 30,000 New York City restaurant patrons, by a margin of almost 6 to 1, respondents said that they eat out more often now because of the city's smoke-free policy. [14] Thus, research generally indicates that business incomes are stable (or even improved) after smoking bans are enacted, and many customers appreciate the improved air quality.'


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3763471.stm

Irish Independent 15th September 2005

'OFF-LICENCE sales are falling and Irish drinkers are returning to the pub, new figures from the Central Statistics Office released yesterday show.

Sales of beer, wine, spirits and food in pubs rose by 1.1pc in July 2005 compared with the previous month, showing an annual increase of 5.8pc.

At the same time, off-licence sales fell by 5pc between June and July, showing a slight annual decrease of 0.1pc. . . .

A CSO spokesperson said that pub sales had been falling before the smoking ban was introduced but were now recovering.'

Whether a ban local to you is the right thing to do is a question for your local legislature, but where a ban has already been imposed, businesses have benefited, not suffered.

[383rr]

" Marionneaux cited several polls conducted by anti-smoking groups showing that a majority of residents in Louisiana’s cities support such a ban."

Who did they poll? Probably their own members.

[Raycpa]

The measure passed on a 36-2 vote.

Yes, smokers continue to win the hearts and minds of others.

Gee whiz folks.. when are you going to face the music? I used to think maybe it would take 5 more years before bans in all restaurants everywhere but now I think it will be within 3 years.

[sergeantdave]

"...a majority of residents in Louisiana’s cities support such a ban."

Mob rule. The tyranny of the majority. If 100 people gather in room and 51 vote to hang you, is that okay? Democracy inevitably evolves into a dictatorship where there is no rule by law, and the rights and freedoms of the minority are trampled by the emotions of the mob.

If these dumbclucks don't get it, look for anarchy and violence in the future followed by a dictatorship.

[Ellesu]

http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=374305

This bill prohibits smoking in motor vehicles under certain circumstances.

[bella1]

Unless you are an illegal, then you can smoke all you want. After all, American laws dont really mean anything do they?

[mysterio]

I don't hold nannies responsible for this kind of crap anymore. I hold the smokers who continue to spend money at nonsmoking establishments after the bans responsible. If they ban it in your area, don't solicit the businesses. A 25% drop in business will end a smoking ban in any area.

[Mears]

At least they can still smoke in bars.