Smoking in Chicago Bars

 

At brew pub, Michigan governor signs smoking ban | ajc.com

At brew pub, Michigan governor signs smoking ban  | ajc.com

Posted using ShareThis

St. Louis smoking ban legal challenge in AP Story

One ban the association is focusing on affects St. Louis, Mo., and contains a similar exemption for casinos. Bar and restaurant owners there are challenging the ban in court, Binoniemi said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKxvHHwwvJG77hma363IvkN8CzxQD9CLUFBO0

Bully's Sports Bar & Grill files for bankruptcy protection

"Bully’s Sports Bar & Grill, which operates 13 outlets across Northern Nevada, has filed for bankruptcy protection but plans to operate as usual in the meantime.

Owner Paul Sonner said today the impact from the state’s ban on public indoor smoking, timed with the recession’s pinch on consumers, has forced him to seek Chapter 11 reorganization.

Nevada voters in the 2006 general election approved the smoking ban in most public places with the exception of casino floors and bars that don’t serve food."

http://rgj.com/article/20091208/BIZ/91208040&OAS_sitepage=news.rgj.com%2Fbreakingnews

St. Louis City Smoking Ban Legal Challenge in USA TODAY

"Opponents of smoking bans try novel ways to overturn them. In St. Louis, Bill Hannegan is challenging a ban set to take effect there in January 2011 by arguing that an exemption for casinos violates the state constitution. It is, he says, "very difficult to fight" foes of smoking."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-12-06-bars-ignore-smoking-bans_N.htm#LogIn

I told Judy Keen about the SmokeChoke site. Glad she included it.
http://www.smokechoke.com/

Chad Garrison of the RFT picked up on this:
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/12/usa_today_highlights_taverns_nationwide_that_ignore_smoking_bans.php

The News Gazette

"It's clear Illinoisans are spending their money at Indiana and Missouri casinos. Thanks in part to Illinois' indoor smoking ban, business at Indiana's four Chicago-area casinos grew 2.2 percent last year compared with a 21.5 percent loss at the four Chicago area casinos in Illinois. The percentages are similar in the St. Louis area: adjusted gross receipts at the Missouri casinos were up 8.9 percent last year, down 18 percent at the Illinois casinos."

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/12/06/lawmakers_looking_gaming_gift_horse_in_the_mouth

St. Louis City Smoke Free Air Act of 2009

Smoking - St. Louis City BB46 FS (as Perfected 10-23-09)

Alderman Craig Schmid, who came up with the square footage bar exemption during the final meeting of the Health and Human Services Committee, said during the meeting that he wanted to avoid linking smoking privileges to low food sales because he wanted to encourage establishments that allowed smoking to serve lots of food as well.