Illinois Smoking Ban Hurting Bars, Taverns

The January 1st statewide ban on smoking in bars is hurting - you guessed it - bars. Duh. The Bench predicted this, but it doesn't take a genius to understand that when you suddenly treat loyal patrons like unwanted guests, they're going to take the hint. Several walk throughs of east Rogers Park have shown that business is down. Way down. Duke's Bar on N. Glenwood, for example, has been noticeably slower sincer January 1. In fact, Duke's just raised the prices on beer last week. Coincidence? You tell me. With smaller crowds but the same rent and payroll, many other bars will raise their prices, too. But that will only cause a downward spiralling of their business volume. Many smokers are telling The Bench that they are opting to stay home with a six pack or party at a friend's place - where they can smoke. Some residents of Rogers Park choose the freedom of drinking (and smoking) in the park. The Oasis is a bar whose patrons, like Duke's, include many smokers. Their crowds have also been noticeably smaller. Morseland, an upscale yuppie nightclub, has also been visibly slower. Lorraine Swanson writes about this bruising of the bar business in the News-Star. She quotes a bar owner as saying that they have "lost 25 to 40 percent of business at the bar, where smoking was permitted." The Bench predicted a 15 to 40 percent loss for bars. The trend will continue, we predict. More and more smokers will realize that they don't need to tip bartenders and servers to get their drink on. More and more bar patrons, including nonsmokers, will be turned away by higher prices to make up for the loss of the smokers' money. More and more bars and taverns will go out of business, causing unemployment for some people. As a result, the state will pay more in unemployment compensation even as tax revenues from bar sales drops. Meanwhile, liquor stores win. It's a lose-lose situation. Congratulations, Illinois.