Clearing The Air

Monday, November 22, 2010

Ireland passed a business crippling nationwide smoking ban a couple years ago, now they're seeking a financial bailout, coincidence? We think not

The financial hardships caused by smoking bans around the globe are well documented:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/03/worldwide-economic-meltdown-and.html

Today's headline is about one smoking ban afflicted nation's plea for financial assistance:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/business/global/22debt.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a2

Hey Ireland, you should pay attention to what your neighbors in the U.K. did to try to stem the tide of massive pub closings, circle jerk themselves into more debt:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2010/03/smoking-ban-lessons-learned-typical.html

Sunday, November 21, 2010

75% of Michigan hospitality owners surveyed report smoking ban has caused a decrease in revenue

Lance Binoniemi, executive director of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, said 75 percent of 450 member bars and restaurants surveyed statewide reported a dip in profits in May, June and July, compared with the same period in 2009.

The group has about 2,500 members overall.

Most respondents attributed the sales decline to customers who pack up their smokes and go elsewhere, Binoniemi said.

The association surveyed the businesses in August following the smoking ban affecting restaurants, bars and workplaces.

Full story here:

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101121/NEWS02/11210506/1001/news/Michigan-smoking-ban-hurts-business--group-says

Here in Minnesota we already knew that the smoking ban lobbyists, who were funded $446+ million by Nicoderm interests at RWJF, lied to lawmakers and the public when they claimed smoking bans were good for business......as we've already seen approximately 450 MN bars & restaurants close since smoking bans were enacted in the land of 10,000 unemployed hospitality workers.

Around the world the story remains the same, smoking bans eliminate revenue and jobs at a record pace:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/03/worldwide-economic-meltdown-and.html

Meanwhile profits increase for the Nicoderm interests (RWJF) who funded the smoking ban laws. Economists call this modus operandi rent seeking legislation:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/12/minnesota-smoking-ban-triples-demand-of.html

Additional Michigan news, charitable gaming revenue negatively impacted by smoking ban:

http://www.freep.com/article/20101127/NEWS06/11270373/1318/Some-charities-feeling-burned-by-smoking-ban

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Congratulations America for taking the first steps to Righting the ship

And a reminder to the newly elected Republican majorities out there......Republicans stand for free market choices and property rights.......NOT smoking bans. And when you understand that smoking ban lobbyists are funded by alternative pharmaceutical nicotine interests, and smoking bans negatively impact economies, the message is clear........smoking ban lobbyists are NOT TRUSTWORTHY but rather paid spokespersons for the Nicoderm, Nicorette, Nicotrol, Commit, drug companies......don't give these activists (once reputable, charitable organizations ALA, ACS, AMA, CTFK, etc.) the rent seeking time of day, they lost the title "reputable" once they provided false testimony about secondhand smoke in exchange for multi-million dollar funding from Nicoderm, Nicorette interests at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

Additional reading:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html

Netherlands reverses their 2 year old smoking ban after owners complain of "plummeting profits"

From Reuters comes this November 3, 2010 news:

The new Dutch government has scrapped a smoking ban for small bars and cafes, reversing a public health measure introduced two years ago by the previous administration.

Health Minister Edith Schippers said Wednesday in a letter to parliament the move "gives consumers more choice".

Small cafe owners complained bitterly after the ban became official in July 2008, saying it sent their profits plummeting.

Schippers said the government will lift the ban immediately.

More here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39992553/ns/world_news-europe/

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

South Dakota vote for freedom of choice, vote NO on Referred Law 12

Referred Law 12 is another special interest attempt to strip away freedoms from South Dakotans........vote NO.

As a resident of Minnesota the smoking ban has destroyed businesses (closing 420+ bars & restaurants), and eliminated approximately 15,000 jobs here.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

New report from Minnesota Auditor's Office proves REVENUES DECREASED by an average of 31.9% in bar and tavern businesses after smoking bans were enacted.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2010/10/minnesota-releases-revenue-numbers-that.html

Even as air quality testing proves secondhand smoke IS NOT a workplace health hazard:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2010/10/air-quality-testing-of-secondhand-smoke.html

Say yes to freedom by voting NO on REFERRED LAW 12

Update: Find election results by precinct online here.

(Congratulations to Bennett, Buffalo, Dewey, Harding, Jackson, Mellette, Shannon, Todd, & Ziebach counties for standing up for freedom by voting against the Nicoderm funded, smoking ban marketing ploy)