Carbondale Bytelife

Anecdotally, at least, the smoking ban hasn't been the end of the world for locally businesses. I'd like to see some aggregated figures though.

Labels: business, Carbondale, Smoking

I'd be a lot more impressed if Mr. Hemminghaus had done this before the ban passed. IF you don't like the ban, start working to get it overturned. Vote against and campaign against any elected official that voted in favor of it The only reason the smoking ban got passed was that those in favor of it worked harder and lobbied better than those against it.

Labels: Smoking

According to this article in today's Southern, the smoking ban has really hurt bar business in Carbondale. PKs is down 30%, The Cellar is down 20% and Mugsy McGuire's had it's worst January in 10 years. Other bars outside Carbondale are reporting similar figures. It appears that the lack of smoking means that smokers only come in for an hour or so instead of the 3-4 hours they used to spend. In addition, the expected non-smokers aren't coming in to replace the vanished smokers.

It's going to take six months to a year for customer behavior to change and reflect the new smoking situation. The question is, are the bars financially strong enough to hold on until this happens?

Labels: Carbondale, Smoking

Remember, the statewide smoking ban goes into effect tomorrow as does the sales tax increase. Interestingly, I've seen a lot more coverage of the smoking ban than I have the sales tax.

Labels: Smoking, taxes

The statewide smoking ban on public places goes into effect on January 1st but it seems we don't have rules on what is legal and what isn't, according to this story from the Southern. Not even the Jackson Co. Health Department is even sure what the rules are:

Officials from the Jackson County Public Health Department convened and hosted the meeting. After a slideshow presentation, Angie Bailey of the health department began fielding questions.

"We know it's not a perfect law," she said. "The rules and regulations are in the process of being written, but the ban goes into effect Jan. 1."

The rules and regulations Bailey was speaking of are still being drafted at the state level but, until then, the law still applies, said Kim Parker, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Health.

"The distinction between the rules and the law is that the rules explain how the act will be implemented, she said. "The law goes into effect Jan. 1 whether the rules are in place or not."

Right now, it appears the ban only covered enclosed spaces i.e. four walls and ceiling. Beer gardens appear exempt, at least the section of them that is 15 feel away from the enclosed space. I know this is for the benefit of public health but you'd think putting the rules in place sufficiently far ahead of time so that people affected could plan would be a no brainer.

On the other hand, this is the state government that dithered around for months over electric rates, even knowing the date the rate freeze would expire and having plenty of time to prepare.

Labels: business, Smoking, state government

If you're interested in the Smoke Free Illinois Act, the Jackson County Health Department has posted a one page summary of the act on its website. Click here, then click on Links and scroll down to the links related to the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Or you can just read it below:

Smoke Free Illinois Act
· Repeals the current Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act
· Requires all public places & workplaces to be smoke free
· Requires 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and
ventilation intakes to be smoke free
· Requires no smoking signs be posted & ashtrays removed
· Fines
o Fines are shared – ½ to IDPH and ½ to enforcing agency
o Person who owns or operates a public place or place of
employment
§ Not less than $250 for first violation
§ Not less than $500 for second violation
§ Not less than $2500 for each additional violation within
one year of first violation
o Individual
§ Not less than $100 and not more than $200
· Enforcement
o Illinois Department of Public Health
o State certified local public health departments
o Local law enforcement
o IDPH shall establish a telephone number for complaints
· Exemptions include:
o Private residences except when used as a child care, adult day
care or health care facility or any other home based business
open to the public.
o Retail tobacco stores
o Private & semi-private rooms in nursing homes and long term
care facilities that are occupied by one or more persons, all of
whom are smokers and have requested in writing to be placed
or to remain in a room where smoking is permitted and the
smoke shall not infiltrate other areas of the nursing home.
o 25% of hotel & motel sleeping rooms
The entire law (Public Act 095-0017) can be found at
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0017

Labels: Smoking

The Southern has an article on the details of the upcoming smoking ban in pubic places. In case you feel like reading over the thing, here's a link to the Illinois Register where the regulations on Smoke Free Illinois are published. You're going to want to scroll to page 13672 and be prepared to read over 25 pages of text.

Labels: Smoking, state government