Wednesday, July 09 2008
An article in the Romeo, Michigan Observer (www.romeoobserver.com) reports that a non-smoking bill, which could be enacted by year's end, has residents, among which include owners of bars and restuarants, concerned that it will have a negative impact on business.
Both the House and the Senate have voted to ban smoking, though the House wished to have exemptions from the ban, including cigar bars, tobacco specialty retail stores, gambling areas of casinos, licensed bingo events and for nonfood service areas of racetracks.
The Senate bill, which passed with a 25-12 vote on May 8, did not include these exemptions, and the bill has returned to the House. Should a deal be struck between the two, it might not return until after the November election.
Chris Johnson, co-owner of Main Street Bar and Grill, hopes it would never come to fruition.
"It will hurt revenue, even more-so a bar like us than a restaurant," he said. "If it's nonsmoking for a general public workplace I can understand it, but for us it's different."
Residents say smoking ban would hurt business
