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Across the country, states big and small are facing significant budget gaps. In California, the worst case by far, candidates for state office are debating how to close a $19 billion budget deficit. In Florida, meanwhile, another multi-billion dollar budget hole is on the cards,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and looks set to grow with oil drilling off the Florida coast now off the table. Still other states are facing similar situations, if on a less disastrous scale. While many serving in statehouses nationwide will advocate for spending cuts, as opposed to tax increases, in some states, tax hikes are already being put on the table, with so-called “sin taxes” demonstrating renewed appeal.
Washington State recently increased taxes on beer and cigarettes in an effort to stop its own fiscal bleeding (though left-leaning figures in the state have also been arguing for a state income tax).
In Illinois,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a proposal to increase cigarette taxes that went nowhere last year has now been resuscitated.[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
Smoking bans have positive health effects. While the full health benefits may take up to 20-30 years to be realised, the evidence from smoke-free countries is already very encouraging. Indoor air quality improved dramatically after the smoking bans went into effect, with an 83% and an 86% reduction in the concentrations of particulate matter in Irish and Scottish bars,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], respectively. Better air quality has been mirrored by substantial reductions in the incidence of heart attacks, including a drop of 11% in Ireland and Italy, a 17% drop in Scotland and even greater reductions in some US jurisdictions.
Numerous studies have also shown significant improvement in the respiratory health in hospitality workers as a result of smoke-free laws, ranging from 13 to 50%. Smoke-free policies have also been reported to reduce tobacco consumption and encourage quit attempts among smokers, thus contributing to a reduction in smoking prevalence.
Jessie Moyer,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], 40, of Temperance and her husband, Harry Moyer, 54, both smokers, will continue to go to their favorite eateries after the ban starts, they’ll just smoke less.
“They’re sort of doing us a favor, but they’re screwing more people,” she said while puffing on a cigarette in Sidelines’ lower level.
But some employees, such as Jessica Stafford,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], a bartender at M.T. Loonies in Temperance, said she’s “kinda nervous.” Stafford, 23,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], of Toledo worked at a Toledo bar when Ohio’s smoking ban was approved in 2006. She stuck it out for a while, but left to go to M.T. Loonies “after a couple Friday nights of not making that great of money.”
Stafford is more confident M.T. Loonies will do well: There’s talk of an outdoor patio and the bar is a popular spot for Keno and offers weekend entertainment with no cover.
“I think we’ll be able to get through,” she said. “Our customers are great. We have a lot of regulars.”
Bernie Rachuba, a bartender at the Michigan Tavern, said the Temperance watering hole saw more Ohioans after the ban in that state and said,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], “people are very happy when they come here and they can smoke.” Rachuba, 44, of Toledo said he doesn’t think the bar will lose patrons when the Michigan ban starts and also said there is talk about an outdoor patio.
Scott Rogowski, general manager of Sidelines, hopes for more customers,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], based on the new faces and families he has seen since the upper level went smoke-free. He worked at a Toledo restaurant when Ohio’s smoking ban passed. Smokers initially were upset, he said, “but people got used to it.”
Arnie Jennings, owner of ajs Doolittles in Lambertville, doesn’t expect a drastic change when the Michigan ban starts, unlike when the Ohio one began and smokers crossed the border. He said “most of our customers who smoke have accepted the fact they’ll have to go outside to smoke.”