Published: February 12, 2006
Revenues Higher in Smokefree Rhode Island
By ALan Gray, NewsBlaze 
One year later, data shows 8.2% gain
In every battle for clean indoor air, tobacco interests argue that clean indoor air will hurt business in restaurants and bars. In every study released after clean indoor air legislation goes into effect, data shows the opposite to be true.
On Friday, Rhode Island became the latest state to release figures. From March through November 2005 (when the smokefree law first took effect), sales tax collections on meals and beverages rose 8.2 percent over the same period in the prior year.
Currently nine state legislatures are debating clean indoor air laws. In each of these states, there are a handful of legislators claiming that clean indoor air will ruin the hospitality industry and drive business to the closest smoky jurisdiction.
"These legislators should be laughed out of office," says Joe Cherner, founder of BREATHE (Bar and Restaurant Employees Advocating Together for a Healthy Environment). "It's pathetic that they still get away will scaring up false claims of lost business."
"First, they divert attention away from the real issue- the right of workers to a cancer-free workplace. Then they make false claims about business to mislead their peers and their constituents," adds Cherner.
Eleven states - California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana, Vermont, Washington, and New Jersey - and the District of Columbia have adopted comprehensive smokefree workplace legislation for workers, including restaurant and bar workers.
Colorado, Utah, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Hampshire will likely make smokefree decisions in the next few weeks. In November, Ohio and Arizona will hold ballot initiatives where voters will decide.
To send a FREE letter in support of clean air where YOU live, go to
http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php
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