Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants: Effects on Restaurant Sales

Abstract

Purpose.: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of prohibiting smoking in restaurants on total restaurant sales in Flagstaff, Arizona. Design.: Flagstaff restaurant and retail sales data were collected for periods approximately 3.5 years prior to enactment of a no-smoking-in-restaurants ordinance and 1.5 years after enactment of the ordinance. Data were compared with six comparison areas utilizing four methods of analyses. Setting.: The city of Flagstaff Arizona, was the community in this study that prohibited smoking in restaurants. Subjects.: Flagstaff restaurant and retail sales were compared to sales in two similar Arizona cities, three counties, and the entire state of Arizona. Intervention.: A city ordinance that prohibited smoking in all Flagstaff, Arizona, restaurants. Measures.: Taxable restaurant sales were collected from Flagstaff and all comparison areas. Retail sales data were also collected to determine if changes occurred in the ratio of restaurant to retail sales. Results.: All analyses resulted in the same conclusions: prohibiting smoking in restaurants did not affect restaurant sales. Conclusions.: Study findings indicate that prohibiting smoking in Flagstaff, Arizona, restaurants has had no effect on restaurant sales.