Despite our love of beer, we here at “Best of Business” don’t often go to bars, but we found ourselves in a local tavern in April. We soon noticed there was something different about the place—something pleasant. What was it? It wasn’t exceptional décor or great music. We ordered a coldie, sat back in our chairs, and felt cheerful even before we took a single sip of the suds. Then we realized: The joint was smoke free.
Yes, many bar owners are enraged by the smoking ban, and the cigarette “fee” the state passed last year.
And sure, we respect people’s choice to smoke, even if it raises our own health insurance premiums. But based on that April experience and subsequent ones, we can’t help thinking that the ban has been a step forward for civilization. There’s something about cancer sticks that can turn ordinarily nice people into cackling barflies. In the long run, the best bars and restaurants won’t be hurt by this—quite the contrary. See you at happy hour this Friday after work.
