Local businesses split on wisdom of smoking ban
Potential hit on revenue has many worried
BY BRETT WALLACE
[email protected]
Published: Sunday, February 8, 2009 1:08 AM EST
With the introduction of House Bill 1213 in Indianapolis, Indiana could be on its way to becoming the 25th state in the nation to ban smoking in public places.
In Grant County, business owners have widely differing views about the effect this bill would have on their business.
The bill, proposed by Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, would restrict smoking in all public places and any enclosed place of employment, without exception.
Nikki Burkholder lights up her cigarette
Brad Klopfenstein, executive director of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, estimates Indiana pubs and clubs would see the same 20 percent dip in traffic as was seen in neighboring Ohio and Illinois when their smoking bans took effect.
“In some bars, 80 percent or more of their patrons smoke,” he said.
He said his organization remains opposed to Brown’s bill in its current form. Bars and clubs are venues aimed at adults who are capable of making decisions for themselves, Klopfenstein said.
“We think this is … a freedom of choice and personal responsibility issue,” he said.
But Lisa Couch, program coordinator for the Grant County Tobacco Coalition, believes smoking in any public place makes the matter a public health issue.
“That’s what I’m in it for — to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.
In her opinion, a comprehensive bill is best because it treats everybody the same.
“I want to be compassionate and listen to all sides on this issue,” she said. “But it’s a public-health issue.”
Charles Weaver, owner of Good Time Charlie’s, 3448 S. Adams St., is worried about the effect the statewide smoking ban would have on his already wounded business.
There’s no doubt in Weaver’s mind that the ban will drive customers from his establishment.
“People are not going to quit smoking,” he said. “They’re going to quit going to places where they can’t smoke.”
In his view, it’s an example of Indianapolis trying to legislate on a matter that he said Grant County has done a good job of handling on its own.
And as for the timing, it couldn’t be worse, Weaver said.
“I can’t take another 20 percent hit,” said Weaver, a nonsmoker. “I’ve already taken one in the past year because of the economy.”
But for a business like the Ninth Street Cafe, 1802 W. Ninth St., a smoking ban in all Indiana restaurants might actually help drive business to the establishment.
That’s the opinion of owner Paula Harner, who decided when she opened her establishment almost six years ago to make it nonsmoking from Day 1.
“I’ve just never been a fan of smoking,” she said. “It was just what I wanted to do.”
She said many of her customers enjoy her restaurant, among other reasons, because of the cleanliness and the smoke-free environment. But she also knows she’s lost many customers over the years who liked her food but wanted to eat somewhere they could sit and smoke afterward.
Now, if the bill is passed, she hopes she can compete for those clients rather than worry about losing her current customers to other businesses.
“My food is what people enjoy the most. It won’t hurt anything at all,” she said of the proposed ban.
One business manager who allows smoking in his facility but would welcome a state-mandated policy change is David Oswalt at Plaza Bowl, 939 N. Park Ave.
Oswalt said he thinks smoking should be allowed in bars but also believes, in the long run, the bowling alley would draw more customers if it were a nonsmoking facility.
The problem is the short-term hit that business would take if smoking was banned, he said.
“Immediately, it’s going to have a negative effect,” Oswalt said. “I do believe in the long run it actually benefits.”
It’s unfortunate that Plaza Bowl is not in a position to enact a no-smoking policy in its alley itself, he said, but the economy right now demands it.
“The way everything is going, we can’t afford to make changes that hurt us right now,” he said.
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