Most of us met Kelly at the October 9, 2007 protest against the smoking ban at the State House in Columbus, Ohio.  Kelly's cafe is now closed.  Her cafe was on a list we compiled of closed Ohio businesses.  Hear what Kelly and other business owners say about how their businesses are suffering.  And from the time the ban was being enforced to October, the weather had been nice.  Wait until the cold and wind of winter.  Their businesses will suffer even further.  http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19759796

Partial list of business closings.

This is only a partial list of the closing in Ohio.  Some were discovered by returned mailings. Because these businesses are closed, we cannot reach people to confirm nor can we confirm they closed as a direct result of the Smoking Ban.  /Documents/closed bars protest.doc

 Anheuser Busch sales DOWN in Ohio

 /Documents/2006 vs_ 2007 beer sales.eml

Ohio Department of Liquor Control figures prove Ohio permit holders have lost money since the smoking ban.  Comparisons were made from 2003-2007.  Both retail and whole sale NUMBER OF BOTTLES SOLD increased from 2003-2006, however only RETAIL saw an increase (of 1,384,148 bottles) from 2006 to 2007.  WHOLESALE decreased dramatically.  Add to those losses the growth that had previously been experienced and the hospitality industry lost a potential $67,441,632 in sales in 2007.  Sales and use tax losses would have given the State of Ohio $4,264,446.

Ohio Job and Family Services, in 2006, had projected a 10,000 jobs increase for the hospitality and leisure industry.  Instead, the 1st 12 months of the ban saw a DECREASE of 5,400.  5,400 displaced workers.

Ohio Coin Machine Industry lost 20%-30% in revenue since the ban.

Collateral Damage to: musicians, karaoke vendors, snack vendors and charitable donations from private clubs.

Other losses: paid unemployment for the State of Ohio and the cost to the State of Ohio to enforce the ban. 

This page was last modified on Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:51:22 PM