As to loss of business as a result of smoking bans, i can honestly say we havn't really seen any at my family's resturant. I mean initially a few old people grumbled (my grandfather among them), but eventually they got over it. I mean they still have to eat, right? While it was good for employees, the ban was good for the establishment as well. Our smoking area was up front with the bar and the walls (white) would always have to be meticulously cleaned then repainted because the smoke +grease in the air would do a good job of making them yellow.
As a youth it was a boon for me not to have to deal with smoke, and while we could have simply declared no smoking of our own volition, that would have ensured a loss of business. I think the statewide ban was a necessity because it put the inevitable bad feelings on the state, not the business owners.
As to bars, its hard for me to say anything. I've been to a bar once, and even then the bartender gave a guy an ash tray and told him to sit at a table away from everyone when he wanted to smoke. Of course i could still smell it, but i was too preoccupied with getting drunk to worry about carcinogens. Though i dont really think its a big deal to have to smoke outside. I mean inevitably those who may not want to be around your smoke will suffer through it at one time or another, which is both unpleasant and dangerous (in regards to cancer). I think an analogous situation would be with a chain farter. Would you prefer (as an employee or customer) that some guy farting up a storm go outside to do his thing, or would you prefer to sit near him and deal with that unpleasantry? It would be nice if the government didnt have to mandate smoking to be outdoors, but its obvious that smokers are not going to, of their own volition, not force us to suffer through their smoke, hence the necessity for it being a law.
As a youth it was a boon for me not to have to deal with smoke, and while we could have simply declared no smoking of our own volition, that would have ensured a loss of business. I think the statewide ban was a necessity because it put the inevitable bad feelings on the state, not the business owners.
As to bars, its hard for me to say anything. I've been to a bar once, and even then the bartender gave a guy an ash tray and told him to sit at a table away from everyone when he wanted to smoke. Of course i could still smell it, but i was too preoccupied with getting drunk to worry about carcinogens. Though i dont really think its a big deal to have to smoke outside. I mean inevitably those who may not want to be around your smoke will suffer through it at one time or another, which is both unpleasant and dangerous (in regards to cancer). I think an analogous situation would be with a chain farter. Would you prefer (as an employee or customer) that some guy farting up a storm go outside to do his thing, or would you prefer to sit near him and deal with that unpleasantry? It would be nice if the government didnt have to mandate smoking to be outdoors, but its obvious that smokers are not going to, of their own volition, not force us to suffer through their smoke, hence the necessity for it being a law.
. We, therefore, support smoking bans. As for the business losing money, I can't see how a few complaining business is a fair and representative sample of the entire business community. Restaurants, like many other businesses do go out of business. Bad food 
