Restaurants and Bars Struggling With Smoking Ban
On Friday, June 12th at 5:00am, KOLO-TV completed the transition to digital television. Viewers who receive KOLO-TV with an antenna over the air will likely need to rescan their converter boxes or Digital TV’s at that time. If after rescanning, you still cannot receive KOLO, click here to fill out a form which will be directed to our engineers.
Restaurants and Bars Struggling With Smoking Ban Save Email Print
Posted: 11:28 PM Dec 8, 2007
Last Updated: 8:45 AM Dec 9, 2007
Reporter: Daniel Chanin
Email Address: daniel.chanin@kolotv.com

A | A | A

Nevada's Clean Indoor Air Act has been a law for just a year, but it's already creating more than its share of controversey.

The law bans smoking in just about all public places that serve food, except for casinos. But smokers say it goes too far and restaurant and bar owners say it's ruining their business

"We do have some people coming in," says Parker Mills, bar manager at Famous Murphy's of Reno on South Virginia Street. "But it's not like it used to be."

Profits from the slot machines that used to rake in money from the bar have dropped 65 percent since Nevada voted to ban smoking in restaurants and bars with kitchens.

The slumping revenue is forcing mills to make some very costly changes.

"If people aren't coming into gamble, you have to raise the prices," says Mills. "And instead of having five dollar chicken wings, they're now 11 bucks."

A lot of non-smokers are saying that's too bad; and some, like former smoker Carol Mayberry want the act expanded even further.

"I think it's important for them to stay in their cars or house and away from public places."

Some bars are taking the controversial issue into their own hands. Rollin Lazzarone bought Scruples from Mills, six years ago. He's since transformed the compelx into two bars...one with smoking and one without it.

"Even some of our customers who go to the non-smoking bar want to have a glass of wine and maybe a cigarette after dinner," says Lazzarone. "At least they have that option."

Lazzerone says he's still seen a big economic impact on business, despite the remodeling. And Mills says the promise of an increase in non-smoking customers is a dream that simply hasn't come true.

"They haven't showed up in place of the smoking gamblers who disappeared."

More Stories
Naked Man Arrested at Tahoe Casino Arcade

Reno-Based Brewery Expands Distribution

Countries Condemn Launches, White House Remains Silent

Fireworks Explosion on NC Island Kills 1, Hurts 4

Local Politicians Weigh In On Palin's Resignation

Former NFL QB McNair Found Dead

NV Parade Grand Marshal Bows Out

Palin Resigns as Governor, Leaves Plans Secret

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Thomas Laprade Location: Thunder Bay, Ont. on Dec 10, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Smoke from tobacco is a statistically insignificant health risk. http://smokersclubinc.com

Posted by: Dan Location: Reno on Dec 10, 2007 at 04:58 AM
This is supposed to be the wild wild west where people have freedom, whatever happened to separate areas in a restaurant? Prohibition for alcohol did not work, laws are a good thing, but let us get real; some of us do choose vices just like billions of other people, let the nonsmokers and the smokers vote with their wallet.

Posted by: Dan Meyer Location: Reno on Dec 9, 2007 at 06:26 AM
I understand the whole non Smoker point of view. I do not smoke personally and I fully know and have discussed with my children the issues of smoking. But to have a law that is selevtive in nature, that allows the largest businesses to get a pass is wrong. There seems to be a coorilation between smoking and gambling. The numbers seem to prove that. The problem is that Nevada is a gambling state our economy and tax structure is based on it. Our whole economy is based on not being like california, and to have laws that have selective indignation is wrong. The responsibility of our laws and government is not to build monopolies. this law as writen has taken away any competitive ability for the small business operator to compete with the large casinos. this goes against all fairness in regulation policies that we as a nation hold so dear. I looked who was on the cancer charities and who donated to them a year ago, the Las Vegas CEO and CFO of these large casinos where all over the place.

Posted by: Inez Location: Carson City on Dec 8, 2007 at 11:46 PM
How about the other side of this story. We can't even get into some of our favorite restaurants because in orer to reach them, we have to go through a fog of smoke. We've tried the Carson Valley Inn, The Golden Nugget and Gold Dust Inn, and others. Now if we want to have lunch out (omittting greasy fast-food places we go to the Sage Grill and enjoy a delicious and healthy meal.

KOLO Features
Northern Nevada Jobs
Find great local jobs here!
Coupons, Click Here!
Find great deals here!
Win a luxurious mattress set!
Enter to win today!
Stay-Cations
Find a Stay-Cation close to home!
HDTV Information
Everything you need to know about the Digital TV Transition.
Northern Nevada Medical Center
KOLO Online Poll
Are you leaving town to celebrate the 4th?

Yes
No


KOLO AP Online Videos
KOLO Blogs
Mistakes Happen, Decisions are Made! - Post Your Comments!
Help Murder Victim's Family this SATURDAY - 1 Comments Posted
Forget Michael Vick! - 8 Comments Posted
Welcome Back Carter - 1 Comments Posted
A Warning from Firefighters - 2 Comments Posted
More Blogs >>>
Stock Quotes
QUOTES
    Symbol Lookup