Letter: Smoking ban hurts business, is unfair

Monday, Dec. 24, 2007 | 6:55 a.m.

Many food places, bars and taverns have coal in their Christmas stockings this year. The loss of revenue is solely because they aren't allowed to accommodate the thousands of tourists and locals who enjoy smoking while dining.

Before the holiday season many of the established and well-known eateries that had to comply with the outlandish smoking ban experienced a revenue loss of up to 50 percent, so I can imagine how much more these same businesses will lose over the Christmas and New Year's holiday as the crush of visitors comes to town.

I am not a business owner but I have many friends, relatives and associates who travel to Las Vegas and a majority do in fact enjoy smoking and eating in the same establishment, as do thousands of tourists. Since this smoking ban took effect, people lost and closed their businesses and many employees lost their jobs. Sin City? No way - Politically Correct City is more like it.

When adults cannot walk into a place of their choice and enjoy their lifestyle and social activities there is something drastically wrong with that city. Tourists may come during the holiday but many will not return just because of these outrageous bans and restrictions.

Kids are not allowed in bars and taverns, which should be the smoker's playground and hangout. Legislators, rewrite the overreaching law and look to serve everybody, tourists and locals alike. The slogan "What happens here stays here" is a joke. It should read "Nanny is right; do what Nanny says."

If the city becomes any more kiddie-friendly you might as well put a large mouse statue atop City Hall.

Brad Evans, Las Vegas

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