Atlantic City’s 11 casinos would be allowed to permit smoking as early as tonight with City Council poised to give final approval to a measure postponing a ban for one year due to the worsening economy.

A temporary ban took effect on Oct. 15 because the council changed its mind too late to prevent a previously approved ordinance from taking effect.

Casino workers said the past 12 days have been great without having to breathe secondhand smoke. But casino operators said revenue has plunged 10 percent or more since.

The second comment gives a good insight into the nanny mind:

Hopefully, Atlantic City’s City Council has the courage to keep the smoking ban in place. Yes, it will cost jobs, taxes and possibly bankrupt some of the weaker joints. So what. Why should dealers and other floor workers be subjected to the health risks of secondhand smoke.

So we’re going to protect them by costing them their jobs?  Brilliant!

Source: NJ.com.  Link

Three establishments challenged ordinance over drop in revenue
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A strip club, a gambling parlor and a bar recently filed insurance claims against the Kanawha- charleston Health Department, alleging that the agency’s expanded smoking ban has financially damaged their businesses.

A state agency, which insures the Health Department, has rejected the three claims.

“Just because they lost profit, it doesn’t mean the Health Department is liable,” said Charles E. Jones, director of the state Board of Risk & Insurance Management, which denied the claims earlier this month. “The Health Department is enforcing a statute and ordinance.”

Sheer Fantasy’s video lottery sales dropped 30 percent last month compared to June, the month before the smoking ban took effect. Poker machine sales also were off 60 percent last month compared to September 2007.

Source: Charleston Gazette.  Link

Many cafes and discos have seen their turnover fall as a result of the smoking ban introduced on July 1, says sector lobby group Horeca Nederland.

Café turnover dropped by an average 26% and discos by 31% in July and August, compared with the previous summer, according to a survey by the sector.

Source: Dutch News.  Link

Three quarters of Dutch cafes and clubs have lost patrons due to a smoking ban which was introduced in July.

The significant drop in business was reported after a study revealed that cafes had seen a 26 percent decline with clubs dropping by 31 percent.

The smoking ban has been blamed for the loss of customers and many establishments say they have had to fire staff.

Earlier this month restaurant owners asked the health ministry to compensate them for losses as a result of the ban.

Source: Brunei News Net.  Link

Kath Duffy, landlady of the Newcastle Packet and president of the Scarborough branch of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said: “The council might think the ban is wonderful but we don’t. Pubs have lost a lot of trade, the summer’s not been too bad but the winter when people have to stand out in the cold will really hurt us. We saw a definite drop in trade last winter. People just aren’t coming to pubs like they used to before the ban.”

Laurin Mainprize, landlady of the Britannia, said: “I reckon business is down 40 per cent on last year. Smoking isn’t illegal and people shouldn’t have to stand outside in the cold to smoke. Why can’t we have smoking and non-smoking establishments so people can make up their own minds?

“The local pub’s a dying breed and the ban’s one of the main reasons.”

And customers agree.

Lindsay White, a regular in the Black Swan, said: “My husband’s a smoker and he just won’t come to the pub any more – he says there’s no pleasure if he can’t have a smoke with his pint.”

Source: Scarborough Evening News.  Link