Jackpot Bingo leases its parlor to a dozen different non-profit groups on a regular basis. Those groups rely on bingo revenue as a main fundraiser. However, since the smoking ban went into effect last April, attendance at the bingos has dropped by more than 50 percent.  The Tates Creek High School Marching Band stands to lose about $80,000 this year in bingo money.

“We’re trying to supplement this with raffle ticket sales and candy sales, but $80,000 is a large chunk of change,” says Assistant Band Director Andy Critz.

If the band can’t raise enough money to offset the loss, they may have to cancel some band trips or competitions.

Source: wtqv.com. Link Expired.

Now, I and my managers have not been paid for three months. We’ve gone without so that we could pay the bills. I’ve had to let go a third of my staff. And there’s no explanation other than the smoking ban.

A friend in the travel industry told me she lost a $100,000 tour from Germany when the smoking ban went into effect, as they refused to go someplace where they couldn’t smoke.

Source: Grand Forks Herald. Link Expired.

“It’s definitely down. Just look around,” said Gary M. Ziemba, the owner and sole occupant on a recent day at the Blue Room Cafe in Chicopee Falls.

Ziemba, who is running a business that has been in his family since 1936, said he believes sales have dropped by 25 percent from last summer’s take.

“People are complaining about it. They’re saying ‘Why go out for a drink when I can buy a six-pack and sit at home?’ It’s really hurting us,” she said.

Source: The Republican. Link Expired.

In a news conference yesterday, Logan said the ban was “killing local restaurants” and announced that the Maxwell’s on Waller Avenue will close Sept. 30 because of the effect of the smoking ban. That location has been open for 14 years.

Source: Lexington Heard-Leader. Link Expired.

Since the ban was implemented October 2003 by the Montgomery County Council, Scaggs said Anchor Inn suffered a 40 percent loss in Keno, beer, wine, liquor and food sales.

Prior to the ban, Scaggs had installed a $350,000 ventilation system in the restaurant with air exchangers that took in smoke and replaced it with fresh air.

Source: Gazette.net. Link expired.

Slauson said he hasn’t seen anything like this drop in sales during the past 24 years that he’s owned the business…

Administrator Richard Zurn said the smoking ban has cut bar business in half at the lodge.

“It’s hurt our business tremendously,” Zurn said Thursday. “It’s way, way down…”

“Everybody smokes in a bar,” he said. “If you don’t want the smoke, don’t work there.”

“People used to come in and stay,” he said. “Now they come in, have one beer, and leave.”

Source: The Daily Star. Link Expired

A city of Toledo employee responsible for enforcing the smoking ban testified yesterday that he was told to file two false reports against area bars for smoking violations that he never saw or believed to exist.

Dave Carleski, an enforcement officer for Toledo’s environmental service division — which is responsible for enforcing the smoking ban — testified in Toledo Municipal Court that he was instructed by his supervisor to file a false complaint against Arnie’s Saloon on Central Avenue and a false citation against Pa-Pa Joe’s Saloon on Monroe Street.

His supervisor, Karen Granata, the city’s chief of air services, who was not in court, later told The Blade she was shocked (Shocked! Shocked I tell you!) to hear of the testimony, attributing some of it to simple miscommunication. The rest, she said, was flatly untrue.

Arnie Elzey, owner of Arnie’s Saloon, said he thinks it certainly does matter that violations be complaint-driven.

“I’ve been targeted because I’m outspoken about the smoking ban,” Mr. Elzey alleged. “It’s frustrating as a business owner to try to survive under these circumstances.”

Source: Toledo Blade Link

…reports that takings have dropped by anywhere between 15 per cent and 50 per cent come as no surprise.”

“It’s a disaster, my trade is easily down 20 per cent,” said Frank O’Connell who owns MacTurcails, a pub in the centre of Dublin that was popular with tourists and locals alike.

Source: The Publican. Link Expired.

“The research clearly proves that the Dublin pub trade is losing as much as 650 full time staff and 1,300 part time staff. Let’s be clear about the real cost of the smoking ban – up to 2,000 jobs are being lost.”

Source: The Publican. Link Expired

“Manitoba Lotteries Corp. will give severance packages to 269 workers — a move the corporation says is necessary because of Winnipeg’s tough smoking ban.

The ban is expected to drain at least $50-million annually from the lottery corporation’s coffers

Link

WINNEPEG, Manitoba – As reported by the Canadian Press: “Manitoba Lotteries Corp. will give severance packages to 269 workers — a move the corporation says is necessary because of Winnipeg’s tough smoking ban.

“The ban is expected to drain at least $50-million annually from the lottery corporation’s coffers…”

Link

I would say at least 90-percent of my bar smokes.”

Genna McDonald says the smoking ban law which went into effect April first has killed her business.

Her long time patrons in Montville are now lighting up at the casinos. VFW halls and private places like the Polish Club where leisure and smoke-filled rooms are allowed.

Larry Clough, Colchester, says,”I’m down 2,500 bucks a week. That’s $125,000 a year, and I have no problem with a smoking law being enacted, it’s just that it doesn’t encompass everybody.”

Link