|
The next time someone tells you that smoking bans don’t hurt business, you may wish to tell them about downtown Cincinnati.
Jon Craig of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that "Ohio's new public smoking ban is killing business for two Cincinnati-area cigar bars, their owners testified Wednesday.
"Sales are down at least 60 percent since the state began enforcing the anti-smoking law in May at Havana Martini Club, 441 Vine St., downtown, and Anthony's Cigar Bar & Grille, 7641 Voice of America Center Drive, West Chester, the owners said.
"They appeared before the Senate Health Committee about legislation proposed by Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, to amend the new law and allow smoking in about 20 cigar bars across Ohio."
Under the Ohio smoking ban, passed by voters last year, smoking is still allowed "in private clubs, designated areas of nursing homes, hotels and tobacco stores if 80 percent of their sales are cigars, cigarettes and other smoking products."
Senate Bill 195 would allow smoking in cigar bars like Havana Martini and Anthony’s because they also serve food and alcoholic beverages, lowering their smoking products percentage of revenue below the 80 percent figure.
And the impact isn’t limited to these two establishments. According to the story, "Last week, Federal Reserve, a smaller piano bar, closed to move to Newport, [Havana Martini managing partner Sandy Meyer] told the Senate committee. ‘Was this move related to smoking? We have seen our patrons take a shuttle bus for $1 to Newport. ... Without clubs like Havana, downtown is dark after 11 p.m.’"
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 October 2007 )
|
