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.
Well, sorry, but this is America and thousands of private businesses across the U.S. have closed because of the forced smoking ban by our government who thinks they know what is best for us.
THE REAL FACTS OF THE SMOKING BANS IMPACT ON BUSINESS'S
The Facts
What do you make of this? (post 9)