Clearing The Air

I have no idea.....

.......how this post eluded me. But then again I have been on the road selling & quoting Smokeeters to our Ramsey County (free to practice their private property rights, almost unfettered) bars & restaurants; so I have not been reading posts as regularly as usual.Westover's post cites this newswire story about a study in Canada on the financial devastation smoking bans have wrought on business owners.

Government Data Shows Smoking Bans Devastate Bar Industry Reports Leading Economist

The study was conducted by Michael Evans, Ph. D., one of North America's leading economists and a former advisor to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NASA, U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the U.S. Treasury. Dr. Evans was also a Professor of Economics at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. The world-renowned economist used Ontario Ministry of Finance sales and tax receipts data between 2000 and 2003 to ensure the veracity of his report. The study has been verified by Wade Cook, Ph. D, Associate Dean of Research, Schulich School of Business.Prof. Evans concluded, "Government data clearly demonstrates smoking bans materially reduce sales in bars and nightclubs. The evidence is quite clear. To suggest that smoking bans don't have a dramatic negative impact on bar sales would be an opinion - not fact."

Captain, I tip my hat to you sir, and beg forgiveness that I didn't take notice sooner.

posted by marcus aurelius @ 11:21 AM