WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2004
CITY ORDINANCES
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
13
Owners unsure about ban's effect
By John Schoirman
jscheirman@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Photo illustration/Courtney Kuhlen
The city's smoking ban, set to go into effect on July 1, is causing controversy about how it will affect Lawrence businesses. The chairman of the mayor's smoking task force said businesses won't be hurt, but some bar and restaurant owners disagree.
David Kingsley, chairman of the mayor's task force on environmental smoke, said the group examined the question of business impacts in cities that have enacted smoking bans.
"We have tons of information on that, but the most recent one we found was El Paso, Texas," he said. "A study did not see any decline at all, based on the sales tax receipts. The bar owners have no credible evidence that the smoking ban will have a negative effect on businesses."
City Commissioner Boog Highberger said, "There are some people who will be hurt, no doubt about it. But I think a lot of businesses will see increases in business. I hope there aren't any serious consequences for any local businesses, but we'll just have to see how it plays out."
Jerry Neverve, owner of The Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Massachusetts St., said he knew the ban was going to affect business adversely. He said studies cited by smoking ban proponents often involved cities in the Sunbelt, where businesses could more easily seat their smoking customers outdoors.
"In northern climes like Kansas the impact will be greater," he said. "In Maine, there was a 40 percent drop in business. We're expecting anywhere from a 15 to 40 percent drop."
Mick Carroll, owner of The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St., and The Jackpot Saloon, 943 Massachusetts St., agrees.
He said some people go to bars to smoke, but might not smoke at home because of their children.
Carroll is a member of the Appeal to Reason and Tolerance Coalition, which is spearheading the petition drive against the smoking ban.
Some restaurant owners said they didn't expect to be hurt as badly as the bars. Randy McIntosh, manager of Jefferson's
Restaurant, 743 Massachusetts St., said he thought there were many nonsmokers in Lawrence, so the ban might actually help his business.
Opinions vary among bar and restaurant customers on whether the smoking ban will affect how much they go out. Michael and Greer Brown, a Lawrence married couple, both graduated from the University of Kansas in Spring 2004.
"We think it's awesome," said Greer of the smoking ban. "Nonsmokers drink, too."
"We would go to bars more frequently with the smoking ban, because it's smoking in bars that sometimes keeps us away," Michael said.
Laura Wade, Wichita senior, another nonsmoker, said, "It doesn't bother me to go to places where smoking is allowed. I actually prefer bars where smoking is allowed. I think it's part of the bar scene."
— Edited by Joe Burke
HEALTH: Ban encourages smokers to cut back, quit
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
This unfiltered-second-hand smoke kills between, 35,000 and 55,000 Americans each year — 3,000 from lung cancer and the remainder from cardiovascular complications. Many more become ill with emphysema and heart disease.
Assumptions for the causes of death were underestimated, said Tom Glynn,
American Cancer Society director of cancer science and trends. When a nonsmoker dies from lung cancer or heart disease, cause of death is determined through family histories and death certificates. Glynn said.
The American Cancer Society fully supports smoking bans. "Every time the data shows that people come back and actually or reluctantly admit that the ban is not such a bad thing after all," Glynn said.
He said bans encouraged smokers to quit or significantly cut back. The number of smokers was reduced by 12 percent after a ban was enforced in New York, said Glynn.
Smokers wishing to quit can find nicotine replacement aids and free counseling at Watkins Health Center, 864-9500.
- Edited by Joe Burke
Photo illustration/Courtney Kuhlen