------------------------------------------------- To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------- Here's a countywide ban that's working. ***** = cuts...and I cut the article at least in half.
Elizabeth Dickinson West Side Sales Up Despite Ban on Smoking By Amit R. Paley Restaurant revenue in Montgomery County increased in the six months after a countywide ban on smoking took effect, a finding that anti-smoking advocates hope will boost their efforts to enact similar bans statewide and in the District. "One can clearly say the restaurant industry has not been harmed by the smoke-free restaurant law," said Montgomery County Council member Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg), who plans to release the figures from the state comptroller's office today. Restaurant industry tax revenue increased by more than 7 percent -- almost $2 million -- over the six months from October to March, compared with the same period one year earlier. The county's smoking ban went into effect Oct. 9. "The fears we heard that this was going to devastate the restaurant industry don't appear to be true," said County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D). "These early numbers are very encouraging." *************************************************************************** New York City had an 8.7 percent increase in sales in bars and restaurants after its smoking ban, according to the city's Department of Finance. Florida had a 7.4 percent increase in restaurant, lunchroom and catering service sales and no significant change in taverns, nightclubs and bars, according to a study by the University of Florida. Smoking opponents say the results from Montgomery County will help their efforts to enact a smoking ban on restaurants in the District -- including in a pending legal fight to put the ban before voters. ************************************************************************* A proposal to ban smoking in bars and restaurants across Maryland failed by a 6 to 5 vote this February to pass the Senate Finance Committee, but supporters vowed to push the measure again next year. The sponsor of the smoking ban, Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D-Montgomery), said the data from Montgomery County will persuade the General Assembly to pass the ban. "It's going to help a lot," Ruben said. "The opponents to the legislation try to make it appear the restaurants are going out of business -- but that is not the case." Would you like to send this article to a friend? Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/admin/emailfriend?contentId=A10445- 2004Jun27&sent=no&referrer=emailarticle _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
