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• A year later, sales are up despite bar smoking ban 

Some say it hurt business, others say it didn’t. The best data available, state meals-and-beverage tax figures, suggest that if anything the smoking ban that went into effect last March 1 has increased sales at Rhode Island bars and restaurants.

From March through November, those figures show, tax collections – a 1-percent levy on sales – were up 8.2 percent ($208,606) from the same period in 2004.

But John J. Dorr, owner of the Mira Bar on Richmond Street in Providence, said the figures don’t fit with his experience. . . .

Harvey said the Health Department has received very few complaints from businesses regarding the smoking ban. Some bar owners do complain about other bars within close proximity allowing smoking, which takes business away from those that comply with the law.

“The businesses by and large are pretty happy with this,” she said. “Complaints center around bars and clubs such as the VFW and American Legion.”

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