Boone Liberty Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STUDY SHOWS THAT 80% OF COLUMBIA’S RESTAURANT COULD BE SMOKE-FREE IN SIX YEARS

Columbia, MO – Wednesday, 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:

• nearly two-thirds (63%) of Columbia’s restaurants are currently non-smoking or restrict smoking to patio areas (see Figure 1)

• this figure is up nearly 11 percentage points over the last three years (52% non-smoking three years ago vs. 63% currently – see Figure 2)

• 65% of restaurants opened in the last three years are smoke free or allow smoking only on patios (see Figure 3)

• of the non-smoking restaurants that were in business three years ago:

  • 17% previously allowed smoking and this percentage was considerably higher among table-service restaurants than quick-service restaurants, indicating that many restaurants are changing their policies based on market factors (see Figure 4)

  • at this rate of change, the percentage of non-smoking restaurants in Columbia could exceed 70% in three years and 80% in five years (see Figure 5)

John Dupuy summarized the main point of these findings: “This study proves what I’ve been saying all along – the market is moving more and more towards non-smoking alternatives. There is no need for regulation. The few smoking restaurants that will be left in six to ten years will be those that cater specifically to this niche market. The majority of people have smoke-free options and these options should only increase in the near future.”

DETAILS. The survey was conducted in late April 2006 under the direction of Greg Rennier, Ph.D., owner of Rennier Associates, Inc., a market-research firm located in Columbia MO. A list of all current restaurants was gathered from Google directories and local yellow pages and reviewed by several BLC members for completeness. 227 restaurants were included in this near census (only 223 included in the study due to refusals or language barriers). The study was funded entirely by individual contributions from BLC members.

Figure 1: Current Smoking Policies

Figure 2: Smoking Policies – Current vs. Three Years Ago

Figure 3: Smoking Policies Among Restaurants Opened in the Last Three Years

Figure 4: Percentage of Non-Smoking Restaurants that
Allowed Smoking Three Years Ago

Figure 5: Estimated Percentage of Non-Smoking Restaurants in
Three & Five Years at Current Rate-of-Change