Study Shows Florida Indoor Smoking Ban Has Not Harmed Businesses

A new study suggests that Florida’s Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits smoking in all enclosed indoor workplaces, has not harmed businesses. In some cases, the law has had a positive effect on profits, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago, examined sales tax revenues from restaurants, hotels and theme parks. Researchers found Florida’s Clean Indoor Air Act, implemented in 2003, had a positive effect on restaurant profits. There was no statistically significant impact on profits of theme parks, hotels or motels. The study, released this week by the Orange County Health Department, calculated that extending the smoke-free law to bars would not have a negative impact on bar revenue.

According to the study’s author, Dr. Frank Chaloupka, smoke-free policies have been shown to significantly reduce tobacco smoke exposure, and lead to a decrease in smoking among both youth and adults. The study was funded by a grant from Orange County.