How can smoking ban proposals help businesses?

Is the logic that more non-smokers are going to frequent bars, casinos & dining establishments to replace the smokers? Or do you naively believe that smokers "will see the light" & join hands singing "Cumbah yah!!"
Is there any freedom such as an exception for private clubs?

The plan's goal appears to be to shame and restrict smokers so heavily that they will be so miserable socially they will quit.

You can not even volunteer at a hospital or hospice if you're a smoker (even if you don't smoke on the job). That isn't going to work.

I don't think it will help businesses, at least not in the short term. And I agree that business owners should have the right to set their own rules, just as a person who owns a home can set their own personal rules of what goes on under their roof.

The smokers will temporarily quit going but most places that lived through smoking bans have weathered the storm and people have returned and simply stepped outside to light up, Now if only the no smoking near the entrance is enforced Non-smokers would not have to gag when coming and going.

First hand experience. I own a restaurant in Az. last year the voters decided to ban smoking in restaurants effective May 1 2007. I went non smoking right after the election in November, my business increased because the smokers had driven many families away. I discovered that most of the smokers that came into my place do not smoke in their own home, so they used to sit in my bar/lounge area and smoke for several hours while ordering one maybe two drinks. When I went non - smoking my average $ per guest increased as well as overall income. I saved money also by not running my 4 large "smokeaters" 24 hours a day. Personally I believe it should be up to the individual owner to either allow or not allow smoking. Surprisingly many of the smokers that left my business after I went non smoking early have returned. I have made improvements to my patio to make it more enjoyable.

All of the customers live longer so they can spend more money???

I don't smoke but think that the business owner should be able to decide how to run their business. If you don't like it, don't go there.

They don't. Unless you are in a major city or college town. Expect for 50% of the businesses to close. Which is the generally accepted rate of closures due to smoking bands in small/medium towns without outside factors that draw in people. Odds are the businesses that exist will see a huge downturn in profits, but they will go up once all the others go out of business. What is really funny is that if smokers actually did quit all at once then states would be bankrupt within 1 year. Our country is run on funds from alcohol,firearms,tobacco, and gambling.

I don't know about how it will work in Kansas City, but in Arkansas we have the Clean Air Act. If a bar or restaurant wants to get an exemption from it, they have to apply for one, and make sure that no one under the age of 21 ever enters their establishment...even delivery people. There are restaurants that have exemptions, the under 21 rule still applies, but they have seen their business grow cause smokers want to eat and smoke. I think the exemption is a good idea, cause people like to drink and smoke...even people that don't normally smoke.

they passed a smoking ban in my town last year,,the skanky pool halls closed, but the restaurants are still packed,,i guess smokers still want to eat.