We Need Smoking to Stay in Bars & Casinos
Sunday June 14, 2009
I don't smoke, nor do I like people smoking around me when I'm trying to eat or, you know, breathe. But New Orleans' #1 industry is tourism, and tourists like to smoke, especially when they drink and gamble and listen to jazz.
Okay, smokers light up for other music too, but jazz is cooler.
Now that we've gotten rid of smoking in Louisiana restaurants, it's really time to calm down on the smoking bans. Fortunately, the latest attempt to ban smoking in bars and casinos died in the State Senate June 9. Unfortunately, it had a lot of supporters, and another bill like it will doubtlessly appear soon.
We need to make sure the people who come here have a good time, people. Several studies, such as this one, support the obvious: banning smoking in areas that rely on the tourist trade is bad economics for New Orleans.
Okay, smokers light up for other music too, but jazz is cooler.
Now that we've gotten rid of smoking in Louisiana restaurants, it's really time to calm down on the smoking bans. Fortunately, the latest attempt to ban smoking in bars and casinos died in the State Senate June 9. Unfortunately, it had a lot of supporters, and another bill like it will doubtlessly appear soon.
We need to make sure the people who come here have a good time, people. Several studies, such as this one, support the obvious: banning smoking in areas that rely on the tourist trade is bad economics for New Orleans.