Disagreement Over Smoking Ban Impact on Bars
By: Michael Pickett
Updated: March 5, 2013
Another Evansville bar closes for good and the owner says the smoking ban's a reason.
Ginny's Place shut down recently. Owner John Higgins says a combination of the smoking ban, poor economic conditions, and a decision to focus on other business interests led to the closing. It's the latest bar to shut down in Evansville since the smoking ban went into effect last year.
But some bar owners say the smoking ban isn't the main reason pubs are shutting down. Terri Carl runs LeRoy's Tavern. She says a lot of things can cause a bar to close.
"I would hesitate to say it's the number one factor," she says. "I would hold that as a very personal issue with the bar owner."
Don Marquardt, President of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, says some bars had a tough time adjusting to loss in revenue after the ban started, and that it's still a common factor in some bars closing. He adds the smoking exception made for casinos hurts smaller bars.
Ginny's Place shut down recently. Owner John Higgins says a combination of the smoking ban, poor economic conditions, and a decision to focus on other business interests led to the closing. It's the latest bar to shut down in Evansville since the smoking ban went into effect last year.
But some bar owners say the smoking ban isn't the main reason pubs are shutting down. Terri Carl runs LeRoy's Tavern. She says a lot of things can cause a bar to close.
"I would hesitate to say it's the number one factor," she says. "I would hold that as a very personal issue with the bar owner."
Don Marquardt, President of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, says some bars had a tough time adjusting to loss in revenue after the ban started, and that it's still a common factor in some bars closing. He adds the smoking exception made for casinos hurts smaller bars.
Comments
Our city leaders are obviously not very concerned about the citizens of evansville. They have given the casino(which isnt owned by anyone in the tristate) a huge advantage with the smoking ban. All of the local bars have had to cut back on staff and even closed because of the ban. While the casino is still going strong and taking the money they put in the bank and spend it out of evansville.
michael a.
March 5, 2013 at 6:44 pm
