Smoking ban ‘disaster’ for New York bars

AS a bar-owner in New York City I can tell you that the smoking ban is a disaster. Establishments report a 30%-40% drop in business, all related to customer loss.

New York city police reported a 40% increase in noise and disorderly complaints related to smokers being outside. It was very cold and wet all spring so these complaints are just a fraction of what can be expected this summer.

As yet no one has been able to identify the 10,000 people who, according to Mayor Bloomberg, were dead as a result of secondhand smoke in bars.

I’ve tended bar in New York for ten years. Do I know about the 10,000 expired colleagues? Of course not.

We are not pro-smoking; we are pro people having a right to choose. There is a strong and united grassroots effort to fight the ban. Be aware, Ireland.

Jon Ross,

237, East 5th Street,

New York 10003,

USA