Jump to full article: PR Web, 2009-08-23
Intro: Ohio's three-year-old smoking ban is costing small businesses big money and jobs. That's why the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association is siding with proponents of an appeal of a lawsuit against draconian enforcement of the ban.
In a case before the 10th District Court of Appeals in Franklin County, it is being argued that enforcement of the ban has gone too far when health department inspectors make no allowances for the best efforts of establishment owners to ensure that patrons adhere to the letter as well as spirit of the law.
"It's a mess. Businesses are losing money and jobs in the midst of an economic crisis. This means the state is losing money, too, but the state's loss of tax revenues are at least being partially offset by fines collected for alleged smoking ban violations," said Chris McCalla, legislative director for the IPCPR.
McCalla cited a recent Federal Reserve Bank study
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