Smoking prohibition may reduce patronage at Restaurants
08/15/99
Under a proposed Wisconsin municipal ordinance, a restaurant that loses too much business because of a no-smoking rule would be granted immunity from the prohibition.
The compromise was reached following an earlier antismoking proposition that was rejected in the council last spring. Consequestly, the La Crosse City-County Tavern League has agreed not to actively fight the proposal.
The new proposition would create a committee to hear appeals from restaurants that argue a smoking prohibition reduces patronage. The restaurant would have to show a 15 percent loss of business after the ordinance has been in effect three months. It would be allowed an exemption for five years, Ledvina said. It would also exempt a restaurant with no more than 50 seats.
Cigarettes
