Tobacco.org

Smooth transition : Restaurant owners, hotel managers say smoking ban is old hat now 

Would it cause some smaller businesses, particularly those that operated as private clubs where smoking was more prevalent, to go under ?

Nineteen months later, those questions have been answered. The overwhelming consensus seems to be that not only have customers adapted, but the smoking ban has actually led to increased business at many establishments.

"It's actually been a very positive thing for my business," said Cecil Turner, owner of the Station Cafe, on the Bentonville Square. "I was actually considering going nonsmoking before the state brought the issue up, but when the government started dragging its feet I just went ahead and did it. Within a few months, the whole state went smoke-free and it just took all the weight off my shoulders.

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