Washington state smoking ban and its differential impact

[High Plains]

Smoke starts to clear on ban's impact

By Sharon Pian Chan
Seattle Times staff reporter

In the four months since the state banned smoking in public places, this is how the ban has affected local restaurants and bars:

• Forced the owner of a 70-year-old Olympia cafe to put his business up for sale.

• Helped business soar at a Northeast Seattle brew pub by attracting new customers who come for a smoke-free meal.

• Driven away so many regulars at an Everett bar that the owner laid off two bartenders.

Much more at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002936775&zsection_id=2002111777&slug=smoking17m&date=20060418

[MercutioATC]

1. Why shouldn't the market regulate this issue?

People do not have the civil right to eat out in a smoke-free environment.

If there are enough people who want to eat in a completely smoke-free restaurant, establishments that decide to go smoke-free will flourish. If not, they won't.

Why are we legislating this?

[High Plains]

2. Looks like it's good for yuppie joints, bad for working class bars

...although, as the article says, the numbers aren't in yet.

I happen to be in Washington state this week (which is why I was looking at the Seattle Times). Under the state law, if actually enforced, smoking would effectively be illegal just about anywhere in downtown Seattle--you must be at least 25 feet from the entrance to a business.

I was in Vancouver, WA, with friends this weekend. We decided to go out, but because of the smoking ban we drove across the river to Portland instead. We did this both Friday and Saturday nights, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, smoked as we felt like it, probably dropped $300 bucks in Oregon, and shockingly enough, none of the Portlanders in the bars whined about dying of second hand smoke.

That's all I have to say about smoking bans: I vote with my feet.

It is interesting, however, the way the impact of the bans appears to differ by the class of the establishment's clientele.

[Beaverhausen]

3. Who wants some?

:popcorn:

[movonne]

4. They will get used to it...they will not be able to stay away from

the restaurants, bars..they will put up a little fight and then slowly start going back.

[High Plains]

6. There is some evidence of that in the article.

Some establishments reported an initial decrease followed by a return to normal.

Some establishments reported an initial decrease that has continued so far.

Some establishments have folded and others may not be able to hold out.

Some establishments report increased business.

[unblock]

5. a similar law just went into effect this weekend in new jersey

and so far we're loving it. we've been out to eat more in the last 4 days than we usually do all month. we've just been loving thinking of all those restaurants we've been smoked out of, and saying, hey, let's eat there!

[Dr.Phool]

7. Ban went into effect in Florida 2 years ago.

Bars that sell little or no food can allow smoking.

Smokers can smoke in outdoor serving areas of restraunts. After they moved the smokers outdoors, non smokers were complaining, "Why do the smokers get the best seats"? usually outside overlooking the bay. Well duh! you're the one's who forced them outside.