On Feb 20, 3:06 am, "_ Prof. Jonez _" > wrote:
> Clean air brings more restaurant patrons
>
> Many restaurants report steady or rising business after state bans smoking
> indoors
>
> By Joseph Gidjunis
> Staff Writer
>
> SALISBURY -- Local restaurant owners said business is keeping steady, if not
> improving, despite fears that a statewide smoking ban implemented Feb. 1 would
> alienate loyal patrons who wanted to take a drag with their meal.
>
> Zia's Italian Grill of Salisbury owner Alex Bubas said he's received few
> complaints from smokers, and the tables formerly in his smoking section are
> being filled more often.
>
> "It's full all of the time, compared to when it was smoking. It's like I have
> six more tables to seat," Bubas said. "Everybody is happy, even the people who
> smoke aren't complaining much. They just resolved themselves to the fact that
> this is inevitable and they smoke outside."
>
> Nearly all of indoor Maryland transferred to a smoke-free environment after the
> 2007 state legislature approved the Maryland Clean Indoor Air Act. The bill
> prohibits smoking in public meeting places, public transportation vehicles and
> indoor places of employment. At least 24 other states have full or partial bans.
>
> Market Street Inn General Manager Howard Bunting said late-night business is
> down a little, but more people are open to dining at the downtown pub. Customers
> have told him they couldn't dine before the ban because they had a medical
> condition like asthma or hated the odor.
>
> "Everything is going great. Business has been very well in the bar," the
> Salisbury restaurant owner said. "The late night crowd has thinned out a little
> bit, but I think it will come back around once they realize this is just the way
> it is."
>
> Bunting said he is contemplating adding an overhang at the Inn for smokers, but
> he's going to wait to see how business continues before making the investment.
>
> The Daily Times story, which ran before the ban, generated many opinions on the
> DelmarvaNOW.com Story Chat feature. Some supported the ban.
>
> "Well, it's about time that nonsmokers can breathe in cool fresh air. This law
> should have happened decades ago. Hopefully (Maryland Gov. Martin) O'Malley next
> year will raise taxes again on smokers," one comment read.
>
> Others demonized it.
>
> "All you sad people celebrating the latest incursion on personal and social
> freedom: I hope you don't enjoy alcohol, or 'unhealthy' food, or perfume and
> cologne, or a wood fire, or loud music, or any of a number of things that make
> life pleasant that will be next on the chopping block. Don't say you weren't
> warned," one writer chided.
>
> State health authorities said they're happily surprised by a lack of complaints
> about the ban. Health Secretary John Colmers told a panel of lawmakers Friday
> that he's not aware of any complaints of bars or restaurants not complying with
> the law.
>
> "February first came and went, and the world did not come to a crashing halt,"
> Colmers said. "For the most part it was successfully implemented, and I suspect
> there will be no great change ... and business may improve."
>
> Colmers told reporters that while noncompliance complaints would go to local
> authorities, not his agency, he wasn't aware of any problems across the state
> implementing the ban lawmakers approved last year.
>
> "I think the world will be a better place because of it," Colmers said.
>
> Restaurant industry officials who opposed the ban's passage said there have been
> no problems with bars and restaurants not complying. The law requires them to
> remove ashtrays and post no-smoking signs, and they could be fined for allowing
> smoking. But people in the industry say it'll be a long time before they know
> whether the ban is hurting business.
>
> "We won't know for a while," said Charity Seyfferth, a manager at Red Hot & Blue
> barbecue restaurant in Annapolis. "We're always slow this time of year, anyway,
> so we'll see when it warms up what happens."
>
> Delaware passed its Clean Indoor Air Act in 2002, and the following year,
> residents were surveyed about the change. More than nine out of 10 people
> surveyed said they were as or more likely to go to restaurants, and 89 percent
> said they were more likely to go to bars than before the regulations, according
> a fact sheet from the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.
>
> Several Maryland counties, including Montgomery, went smoke free in restaurants
> in 2003. The following year, restaurant sales increased by 7 percent, or $2
> million. Less than 20 percent of Marylanders say they are regular smokers, and
> between 1998 and 2006, smoking declined 21 percent, according to DHMH.
>
> At Pat Scott's Break Time Sports Grill & Pub in Salisbury, the changes are
> expected to improve profits.
>
> "We've had no problem. People have been using the outside heaters. As long as
> everyone has been doing it, we'll be good," said Kim Scott.
>
> a.. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Glad you found just one article to support your blind eye's viewpoint.
Seen any of these, or don't they let you out that much anymore?
http://tinyurl.com/bgeko
Smoking ban fires up debate
Gazette.net: Maryland Community Newspapers Online ... first abide by
the ban and then prove a 15 percent loss in sales over two months. ...
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01110...03_32357.shtml - 30k -
Cached
IPCPR Believes Maryland Smoking Ban Puts Jobs, Businesses, Non-
Profits ...
McCalla explained that any decline in sales of premium cigars may
result in closing of tobacconists' businesses as well as a loss of
jobs. ...
www.prweb.com/releases/2008/01/prweb663134.htm - 43k - Cached
http://www.freechicago.org/freechicago/factsheet.html
There were 25 percent fewer liquor pouring establishments in Talbot
County, Maryland in December 2004 as compared to a year earlier when
there was no smoking ban. (Maryland Office of the Comptroller)
Ohhh ....That wasn't supposed to happen....
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...4 65812&rfi=6
Industry officials say business at Dover Downs, Delaware Park in
Stanton and Midway Slots in Harrington is down sharply since the
smoking ban took effect in November.
The three casinos draw most of their customers from other states,
particularly Maryland and Pennsylvania, and industry officials say the
losses will only mount if Maryland and Pennsylvania get their own slot
machines.
Yes Indeed: Maryland and Penn will just count mounting losses also.
http://www.freechicago.org/freechica...ct_others.html
Anywhere else it don't pay????
See any economic damage yet?
http://www.forces.org/evidence/files/ban-csr.htm
http://geocities.com/shelioness/ottawaban.html
http://www.gazette.net/stories/10190...51_32360.shtml
Since Gov. Martin O'Malley has called a special session to deal with
the budget, Prince George's residents should pay special attention.
Although some might believe an increase of $1 per pack for cigarettes
is a good thing, smokers now purchasing cigarettes in Maryland will
simply drive a few miles across the border into Virginia and save an
additional $10 per carton from the already lower cost of cigarettes in
Virginia.
Gov. O'Malley's proposals to increase tax revenues are flawed by their
basic tenant that people will not change their habits in response to
the change in the tax code.
Ohhh..Just look at this idea for future taxes<====NEXT SOURCE FOUND
maybe on hold for a while...
Placing a sales tax on health clubs will discourage their use. We want
more Marylander's exercising to remain healthy and to minimize the
high cost of health care.
That smoke Bugg is going to your brain just look
http://tinyurl.com/7do52