From: Joe@smokefree.org
Date: Mon, 01/05/04
Bar/Restaurant Business Up 12% in Smokefree New York
10,000 new jobs added to City's hospitality industry
Tobacco interests pretend that smokefree workplace legislation hurts business,
but tax revenues prove otherwise.
NEW YORK, 1/6/03... New York City's smokefree workplace law took effect in
March, and business is booming. According to Commissioner of Finance Martha
Stark, "New York's bars and restaurants paid the City 12 percent more in
business taxes in the months since the law began than they did in the
corresponding period in 2002."
From April through September of 2003 (the latest data available), the department
collected $12 million in general corporation and unincorporated business taxes
from bars and restaurants, up from only $10.8 million in the same period of
2002.
"Although these statistics are far less important than the number of lives that
will be saved, they are a good indication that New Yorkers are adjusting quite
well to the smoking ban," adds Stark.
In addition to higher revenues, almost 10,000 new jobs were added to the City's
hospitality industry, according to data from the New York State Department of
Labor.
The situation in New York is similar to the situation elsewhere according to Joe
Cherner, founder of BREATHE-- Bar and Restaurant Employees Advocating Together
for a Healthy Environment. "Every peer-reviewed study using sales tax data
shows that clean air is good for health AND good for business," says Cherner.
"It's normal that some restaurants and bars lose money or go out of business.
It has nothing to do with providing clean air. The restaurant/bar business has
extremely high turnover. A bar or club that was trendy last year might not be
trendy this year."
According to the Zagat Survey, 91 restaurants closed since New York's smokefree
workplace law took effect. But 174 restaurants opened and many more openings
are scheduled, according to Zagat.
California became the nation's first smokefree workplace state in 1995. Since
then, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts have passed
smokefree workplace legislation. That number is expected to grow in 2004.
"Tobacco interests love to get the media to report about businesses losing
money." adds Cherner. "But the truth is that for every loser, there are two
winners."
New Yorkers can send a letter of support at www.smokefree.net/NYC
If you don't live in New York, you can send a letter of support for smokefree
workplace legislation where YOU live at www.smokefree.net/alerts.php
Joseph W. Cherner
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
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