Smoking ban aftermath: Duluth bars holding on

The Duluth News-Tribune reported Saturday that a review of tax receipts has shown little change in the success of Duluth bars after the statewide smoking ban went into effect last year.

Tax data collected by the city of Duluth suggests that the statewide smoking ban that went into effect six months ago has not had a measurably negative impact on Duluth’s bar and restaurant business.

Anecdotal evidence from some Duluth bars supports this conclusion, as does the fact that the city clerk’s office has not seen a rise in bars going out of business.

I have long argued that the economic effect of the smoking ban on local bars can be overcome. It will take some time but these numbers are encouraging. I imagine the numbers are a little worse up on the Iron Range but once folks are used to this change in regulation folks will come back to the bars.

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