Clearing The Air

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