REPEAL THE BAN Columbia Restaurant/Bar Smoking Ban

Columbia Restaurant/Bar Smoking Ban

Boone Liberty Coalition Denounces Celebration Of Smoking Ban (January 8, 2008)

The Boone Liberty Coalition (BLC) feels it is inappropriate for CASE1 and SAFE2 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the smoking ban by holding a live concert at the Blue Note the evening of Wednesday, January 9th. The ban has not produced any noticeable health benefits for the City while creating many hardships. More ...

Boone Liberty Coalition Urges The City Council To Repeal The Smoking Ban In Favor Of Signage (December 19, 2007)

The Boone Liberty Coalition (BLC) has formally asked the Columbia City Council to repeal the smoking ban. “With nearly a year to judge its impact, we’ve seen how this ordinance has been a disaster for the city,” said Greg Rennier, Chairman of the BLC. More ...

Study: Smoking ban hurts sales - Federal Reserve report cites 5 percent decline. (December 12, 2007)

A recent economic study of Columbia restaurant and bar sales since the smoking ban went into effect in January of 2007 shows a 5% decline in sales due to the smoking ban.

• Study: Smoking ban hurts sales - Columbia Daily Tribune
• Another bar is up in smoke - Colosseum to close, blames smoking ban.
• The Economic Impact of a Smoking Ban in Columbia, Missouri: A Preliminary Analysis of Sales Tax Data - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Bar owners to gather petition signatures Sunday July 8 (July 3, 2007)

Two local bar owners will be gathering signatures for the petition to repeal the smoking ban Sunday July 8th. They will be at the intersection of Broadway and Providence between 8AM and 4PM. Betty Hamilton of The Tiger Club and Joel of Otto's are organizing the petition drive. Please stop by Sunday and say hi, sign the petition or volunteer to help.

Columbia Billiards and Rack 'n' Roll to close, smoking ban blamed (June 8, 2007)

Two more business closings have been announced. Columbia Billiards and Rack 'n' Roll will be closing this month. The owners, Phil & Maggie Spudich claim their business is down 40% since the smoking ban went into effect. Here are links to news articles on the closures:

• Owner decides to scratch billiard businesses
• Smoking Ban Closes Business' Doors
• Ban Closes Business

Bull Pen Cafe and Lou's Palace closed March 31st (March 31, 2007)

The first casualties of the smoking ban closed there doors March 31st. The Bull Pen Cafe will close its doors after 57 years in business. Lou's Palace will close its doors after more than 20 years in business. Both claim that loss of business from the smoking ban was the cause. Here are links to news articles on their closure:

• Lou's Palace calling it quits - Owner blames city's new smoking ban.
• Bull Pen bids goodbye - Owner blames smoking ban.

Petition to Repeal the Restaurant/Bar Smoking Ban (February 3, 2007)

A group of bar owners led by Betty Hamilton of the Tiger Club and Becky Reynold of Cody's have launched a petition to repeal the recent changes to the Columbia Smoking Ordinance which banned smoking in all restaurants and bars. More ...

City Council Passes Smoking Ban 4-3 (October 15, 2006)

In a 4-3 vote the Columbia City Council passed the new smoking ordinance which will ban smoking in all bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, bingo halls, and most private membership clubs. The ordinance was amended to allow smoking in up to 50% of an outdoor patio. The new ordinance will go into effect January 9th, 2007.

The Boone Liberty Coalition would like to thank all the business owners, employees and residents of Columbia who supported our effort to try and stop the smoking ban over the last 19 months.

Thank you for all your phone calls and e-mails since the smoking ban passed.

Smoking Ban Hearing tonight October 9th at 7PM, Be There!

The Columbia City Council public hearing will be held tonight October 9th 7PM at the Daniel Boone Building, 701 E Broadway. Please attend this hearing and bring all your friends who oppose the smoking ban.

The City Council will accept public comment for as long as people want to speak on the issue. The hearing will run late into the evening so you will be able to make a public comment even if you can't show up until later in the evening.

The Boone Liberty Coalition will be handing out Stop The Ban stickers at the entrances to the Daniel Boone Building.

After the public hearing is closed the City Council will likely debate, amend, and vote on the proposed smoking ordinance.

Help us stop the City Council from taking away your freedoms!

Smoking Ordinance now on City Council Agenda (September 18, 2006)

The City Council placed the Smoking Ordinance on their agenda during the September 18th meeting. The ordinance they placed on the agenda is almost identical to the one proposed by the Board of Health. Here is a link to the Proposed Smoking Ordinance (pdf).

Boone Liberty Coalition Twilight Festival Table (September 9, 2006)

The Boone Liberty Coalition is setting up a table during the Columbia Twilight Festival. The Twilight Festival runs from 6-8PM each Thursday evening in September. The Boone Liberty Coalition table is on 10th Street just North of Broadway. Stop by and say hello if you are in town Thursday evenings in September. Here is a picture of our table September 7th.

City Council sets date for smoking ordinance public hearing (September 8, 2006)

The City Council has scheduled a special City Council meeting for 7PM October 9th for the public hearing on the proposed smoking ordinance which would ban smoking in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, bingo halls and private membership clubs. The hearing will be held in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall, 701 E. Broadway. The Board of Health public hearing on the smoking ordinance was held at the same location last spring -- there was standing room only. The City Council will be setting up the Lobby and Mezzanine for overflow.

Boone Liberty Coalition Releases Position Paper To The Public (September 7, 2006)

The Boone Liberty Coalition (BLC) has released to the public a position paper that was previously shared only with City Council members. This document -- available at -- http://booneliberty.org/StopTheBan/BooneLibertySmokingBan.pdf -- outlines in greater detail the four primary reasons we are opposed to the proposed smoking ban: More ...

City Council sets a timeline for addressing the proposed smoking ordinance (July 18th, 2006)

On July 17th the Columbia City Council voted to accept the Board of Health smoking ordinance report. They also voted to ask staff to craft language for a revised smoking ordinance. Finally they voted to hold a special meeting of the City Council solely for a public hearing on the proposed smoking ordinance. Lauran Nauser was the sole member of the City Council who voted against proceeding any further. The City Council decided to delay any further action until after they have concluded work on the 2007 city budget. The smoking ordinance will be put on the city council agenda in late September or early October. Although a city council working session was discussed it was unclear whether the city council will discuss the smoking ban during a working session.

Surgeon General and Anti-Smoking Groups Sensationalizing Facts to the Point of Inaccuracy; Why? (July 7, 2006)

Michael Siegel is a physician who specializes in preventive medicine and public health. He has 20 years of experience in tobacco control, primarily as a researcher. In the last few years he has become critical of how anti-smoking groups mislead the public on the health hazards of secondhand smoke. He has a blog where he comments on all of the misleading information the anti-smoking groups release. Well worth a read at http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/.

A Pack of Lies - The surgeon general hypes the hazards of secondhand smoke. (July 5, 2006)

An article from Reason Online Magazine has an excellent response to the recent Surgeon General report on secondhand smoke. From the article:

But you may want to look elsewhere for medical advice. Carmona is so intent on promoting smoking bans -- a key element of the government's campaign to reduce cigarette consumption -- that he absurdly exaggerates the hazards of secondhand smoke, hoping to generate enough public alarm to banish smokers from every location outside the home.

As the report itself makes clear, there is no evidence that brief, transient exposure to secondhand smoke has any effect on your chance of developing heart disease or lung cancer. The studies that link secondhand smoke to these illnesses involve intense, long-term exposure, typically among people who have lived with smokers for decades.

Read the complete article.

Study Shows That 80% Of Columbia's Restaurant Could Be Smoke-free In Six Years (May 24, 2006)

A recent census-type survey of Columbia restaurants by the Boone Liberty Coalition supported their position that the smoking ban is unnecessary in Columbia: More ...

Board of Health finalizes smoking ordinance - removes exemption for outside dining areas (April 11, 2006)

The Columbia Boone County Board of Health approved a final draft of the proposed smoking ordinance. An exemption for outdoor dining areas was removed at the last minute.

The Board of Health then voted to send a report to the City Council with their new smoking ordinance recommendations. The vote was 6-2 with Jean Pax and Nathan Voris the two dissenting votes. Chairman Michael Szewczyk will draft a final report along with a dissenting opinion from Nathan Voris which will be forwarded to the City Council in the next few weeks.

Once the City Council receives the report from the Board of Health they can take no action or put it on the agenda for the City Council.

Smoking ordinance change unnecessary - The free market is working (February 11, 2006)

Recent newspaper articles indicate that the Board of Health continues its push for an expanded smoking ban in Columbia. The Boone Liberty Coalition remains opposed to this anti-choice smoking law. More ...

Background and Current Status

Why we oppose a smoking ban in Columbia

John Darkow Cartoon - Columbia Daily Tribune

Local media coverage about the proposed ban

Restaurant/Bar Smoking Policy Registration

How you can help Stop The Ban