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December 28, 2003
New York's smoking ban not killing business
Here in Chicago, a proposed ban on smoking in bars and restaurants has been debated for a year (a vote is scheduled for January 2004, but many past "scheduled" votes have come and gone).
An industry-backed group called "Chicago Citizens for Freedom of Choice" claims that "non-smoking laws have been demonstrated to hurt the economy of a city and lead to the closing of many bars and restaurants."
But a New York Times story today says that isn't so.
"The early evidence is that many businesses are unharmed," the Times report says about New York City's far-reaching smoking ban. To the contrary, the owner of McSorley's Old Ale House says the city's tough law against all restaurant and bar smoking "may be helping us because it's driving people to drink."
Tim Zagat, publisher of the famous restaurant guides, says the real economic benefit of a far-reaching smoking ban is that people dine out more frequently. "I don't care how you cut it, I think it's long-term good for business."
There's a good discussion of this topic among Chicagoans at 37 Signals.
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Bermuda is thinking about following the example of New York and banning smoking in public places. I've only ever had a couple of puffs of a cigarette, and I found it a thoroughly unpleasant experience (although I have to admit [Read More]
