Most Studies Show No Sales Dip After Going Smoke-Free

Twenty-two to seven.

That’s the ratio of studies that say nothing bad will happen vs. the ones that say it’ll have a negative impact.

The issue: Whether the hospitality industry will suffer if a city votes to go smoke-free in restaurants and bars. Fayetteville is currently considering the issue.

According to a “Summary of Studies Assessing the Economic Impact of Smoke-Free Policies in the Hospitality Industry,” 22 of the 29 studies that were controlled for economic conditions (like a recession) say going smoke-free will not hurt and could even help restaurants financially.

The research was done by Michelle Scollo and Anita Lal through the VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control in Australia. Their analysis was produced in December. But most of the 29 studies analyzed took place in the United States. Of the seven studies that said it would have a negative impact, five of those were funded by tobacco companies.

Jeff Collins, director of the University of Arkansas’ Center for Business and Economic Research, said the theory that restaurants will lose some smokers if a city goes smoke-free is only half right.

“What happens when you ban smoking is you lose some customers and you gain some other customers,” he said.

Whether smokers who dine in Fayetteville will opt to travel to Springdale, Rogers or Bentonville for dinner is yet to be seen, Collins said.

Collins said the pro-smoking movement frequently refers to a study that allegedly shows restaurant business declined after New York City went smoke-free in March.

“My grad students have spent days looking for that study and can’t find it,” he said.

On July 15, the Fayetteville City Council heard the first of three readings pertaining to the proposed smoking ban in Fayetteville. The second reading will be Aug. 5, and the final reading will be Aug. 19. The council can then vote or pass the issue on to the citizens for a vote.

The proposal would ban smoking in all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cafes, cafeterias, coffee shops, pool halls and some other public places. It is being touted as “Smoke-Free Fayetteville.” Fayetteville Alderman Don Marr, however, has presented an amendment to the proposal that would eliminate bars from the smoking ban.