Bar owners in West Virgina aren’t happy about the smoking ban that’s killing their business… And they’re not going to sit and take it.
As always, the big question that I have is a very simple one: where in the hell are all of those people who are supposed to be coming out and filling those empty seats now that places are smoke free?
Bar owners fume over county smoking ban
Angry bar owners railed against Kanawha County’s two-week-old expanded smoking ban Thursday, saying it’s devastating their businesses.
Bar and gambling parlor owners threatened to file a class-action lawsuit if the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health doesn’t rescind the new regulations. About 40 bar owners and patrons attended the health department meeting in Charleston.
“Everybody here is really hurting,” said John Carney, owner of The Blue Parrot bar in downtown Charleston. “It’s really hurting us financially.”
Bar owners said business has dropped at least 30 percent since the smoking ban took effect July 1. Video lottery sales have taken a bigger hit, they said.
When customers find out they can’t smoke, they vow to never come back, bar owners told health board members.
“You’re certainly taking away my business,” said Cynthia Henson, co-owner of Griff’s in South Charleston. “This is very difficult on us. We’re going to lose everything. If people don’t like smoking, they don’t have to come into my establishment.”
Keith Jenkins, owner of the Kanawha City Cantina, offered to put a large red sign on his bar’s front door, warning the public that people were smoking inside.
“You guys are telling me how to run my business, and that’s not fair,” Jenkins said.
Other bar owners complained that when their smoking patrons went outside to smoke last weekend, Charleston police officers chased them back inside, threatening them with arrest.
“Whose health are you really concerned about?” said Dick Nalle, who owns MacNalley’s Pub in Cross Lanes. “Tell me what you’re getting out of it. Who are you saving?” …
… The expanded ban also prohibits smoking at the Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center in Cross Lanes. No smoking violations have been reported at the track.
Ivan Neely told health board members he frequents several bars in Charleston, and sales have dropped dramatically at each.
“If your goal was to put 75 small business owners out of business, you are succeeding,” Neely said. “You are devastating small businesses.” …
… “You’re putting people out of business,” said Steve Atkins, who owns the Village Café in Sissonville. “It’s crazy. It’s ridiculous.”
Carol McCormick, an accounting technician with the Health Department, reminded health board members that they promised to review the smoking ban’s financial impact on local bars.
“You’ve got to listen to these people,” McCormick said. “You need to get the numbers from the bar owners and take a second look and look at a revision.” …
Filed under: Ban Damage, Rights, Small Business Owners, economic impact | Tagged: ban backlash, ban economics, smoking bans, west virginia smoking ban
At least the cops here in Chicago chase customers inside where real crime is an issue, and look the other way when they light up. Many of the cops patronize the same bars when they are off duty. It’s considered the “lesser of two evils”, and good for business. At the big places downtown, the panhandlers, hookers, and teens bumming smokes love the ban. They couldn’t go into the bars, but now the ban brings the customers out to them, really convenient.
I think all smokers should go to the state legislatures buildings at the same time and protest this non smoking ban by lighting up all at the same time. Demand that the legislatures repeal these stupid non-smoking bans,and allow people to live their lives the way they see fit and tell the lawmakers to stay the hell out of their lives with their invasive laws.