Meerderheid New Yorkers nu tegen algemeen rookverbod

Nieuwe onderzoeken in New York tonen aan dat de schade van het algemeen rookverbod in New York veel groter is dan de burgemeester en zijn anti-rookcompanen willen toegeven:

IT IS FOR these reasons that New York state legislators are now considering a rollback of the state’s mandatory smoking ban. A recent independent and respected poll indicates that a majority of both New York City and New York state registered voters no longer support the ban for bars and nightclubs.

Contrary to the assertion made by the Washington Blade, a record number of noise complaints caused by people smoking on sidewalks outside bars and clubs have resulted in a proposal by New York City officials to force nightlife establishments in the city that never sleeps to close at 1 a.m. unless a special “nightlife license” can be obtained.

Needless to say, Bloomberg has put that proposal back on the shelf until after the election.

One in four Washingtonians smoke regularly and they are joined by those who are infrequent social smokers who might light up over a beer or cocktail at a local bar, lounge or nightclub. Patrons of bars and nightclubs tend to smoke in greater numbers than the general population.

FOR GAY AND lesbian venues, however, the numbers are even greater. The American Legacy Foundation estimates from surveys conducted around the country that the percentage of LGBT smokers may number up to twice that of heterosexual adults. Business owners do not need calculators to do the math.

The simple fact is that all mandatory smoking bans have a negative impact on business, differentiated only by effect on business category and degree of loss. Locales with commonly available outdoor facilities at venues and a year-round temperate climate do tend to fare better than others.