On July 24, 2003 the Clean Indoor Air Act was effective in New York State. This law states that smoking shall not be permitted in a number of indoor areas. Included in these areas are places of employment, bars, certain food service establishments, commercial establishments and bingo facilities ("Regulations of Smoking in Public and Work Places" 1). When a law such as this one is put into effect, we can not help but to ask "How is this going to affect business?" This is a valid and common question asked by many, but answered by few.
There has been much debate on whether or not there are major effects on businesses such as privately owned bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. The truth is, the impact of the Clean Indoor Air Act on business, varies. Some studies show that business has declined as much as 40% since the smoking ban; others say that business has even slightly increased since the ban, and yet others say that business has not been effected whatsoever.
Those that complain that the smoking ban has negatively affected business are generally bar owners in small towns. Some of these business owners rely solely on the sale of alcoholic beverages and regular customers for an income. Colleen McShane, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, points out that "alcohol and cigarettes go hand in hand" (Bergen, 2). Adrien Gallo, who manages four bars, has noticed that smokers tend to buy fewer drinks than they did before the smoking ban came into effect. He says "Since people have to go smoke outside, their drinks just sit on the bar. So before, where they might have had two drinks while smoking a cigarette or two, now they're having maybe part of a drink. They might be smoking less because it's a pain to go outside to do it ? but they're also drinking ...