Letter to the Editor

Ban's economic impact

The petition ordinance to ban all smoking in Cape Girardeau, slated for Tuesday's ballot, was not written by concerned local citizens. It is a widely distributed template document from the "Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights" website.

There may be members of the local Breathe Easy steering committee who own restaurants or bars in Cape Girardeau, I do not know. Yet this organization claims that local businesses will see no adverse economic impact after their proposed smoking ban takes effect.

A large number of restaurant and bar owners in Cape Girardeau strongly disagree. They believe such a smoking ban will dramatically decrease their sales revenue, which also means less sales tax revenue for the city and state.

After California's smoking ban, two separate studies by the national accounting firms KPMG and Deloitte & Touche, found that 59 percent of establishments that served alcohol experienced a decrease in business. In one study 29 percent laid off staff, and the average decline in sales was 26 percent. There was a 36 percent reduction in annual sales in the second report.

Closer to home, 16 businesses in Columbia, Mo., closed in the first year after they passed a smoking ban. Illinois casinos suffered a 20 percent to 22 percent revenue decline following the states smoking ban, and their state legislature is now considering smoking exemptions for casinos.

This is serious business. Sadly, if this ordinance passes, it's our local merchants who will pay the price.

BARBARA SCHWEPKER, Cape Girardeau