Newswise reports on a study showing no economic impacts to smoking bans in public places.
New research suggests that exempting bars from community smoking bans makes no economic difference in terms of preserving bar employment, and that even the most comprehensive clean indoor air policies do not lead to a reduction in hospitality jobs.
Researchers hope the findings, based on a study in Minnesota, will factor into future debates within municipalities and states considering the economic and health issues surrounding smoking-ban proposals.
Hmm. OK. Scroll down for the punchline:
This research was supported by a grant from the ClearWay Minnesota research program.
Co-authors of the study are Jean Forster, Darin Erickson and Leslie Lytle of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Barbara Schillo of ClearWay Minnesota.
ClearWay Minnesota is an anti-smoking group. The grant money for this study came from a tobacco lawsuit settlement. Any big surprise that they got these results?
I like being able to take my wife and kids to a restaurant and enjoy a meal without cigarette smoke, so there are probably more folks who will go out an eat for that reason. As a cigar guy it bugs me that fewer and fewer places allow them, and I can imagine smokers are taking their business elsewhere for that reason.
So while the overall numbers/economics haven't changed, the demographics certainly have.
Leave a comment