Tucson CitizenTucson Citizen

Our Opinion: Eateries unhurt by smoking ban

Forget those gloomy predictions about bars and restaurants being driven out of business if their customers were not allowed to smoke.

An Arizona State University study found that the statewide ban on smoking inside businesses has had no impact on 96 percent of bars and restaurants surveyed.

Of the remaining 4 percent that said they were affected, some said business had improved after the smoking ban.

The voter-approved ban took effect in May 2007 with opponents saying it would bankrupt businesses.

Instead, bars and restaurants have added outdoor patios and adapted. Some businesses closed, but none blamed the smoking ban.

It now is healthier and more pleasant to eat and work in Arizona restaurants. So everyone has won.

Citizen Online Archive, 2006-2009

This archive contains all the stories that appeared on the Tucson Citizen's website from mid-2006 to June 1, 2009.

In 2010, a power surge fried a server that contained all of videos linked to dozens of stories in this archive. Also, a server that contained all of the databases for dozens of stories was accidentally erased, so all of those links are broken as well. However, all of the text and photos that accompanied some stories have been preserved.

For all of the stories that were archived by the Tucson Citizen newspaper's library in a digital archive between 1993 and 2009, go to Morgue Part 2

Search site | Terms of service