Smoking Ban in Illinois

As a non-smoker I don't really have a god in this fight but I used to smoke and this is just wrong headed and an action that is going to hurt bars and clubs and those close to neighboring states will be hit particularly bad. This is just another example of people imposing their will on others without thought of the repercussions of their actions. Legislative bodies are made up for the most part of people who have never done an honest days work in their lifetime, never owned a business yet they want to tell others how they should do it. That is like me giving advice on raising children, I've never done it so I truly know nothing about it. Oh I may have some ideas but don't know anything as fact. That said I urge you to please take action and call your represntatives or if you live out of state call a rep that is close by, tell them your tourism dollars will be lost if they don't provide some exemptions to this bill and please read the following.



Action Alert

Exempt Bars & Clubs from Statewide Smoking Ban!!!

The Illinois General Assembly just passed a new law implementing a statewide smoking ban in all businesses effective January 1, 2008-- including bars, fraternal clubs and bowling center lounges.

Right now, there are no exceptions to the ban; however, the gaming riverboats are working hard to be exempted from the statewide smoking ban. We need to generate hundreds of phone calls to legislators insisting bars and fraternal clubs be included with the boats as exemptions to the new statewide smoking ban on House Bill 25.

If you do not act on this, smoking will be permanently banned in bars and fraternal clubs. Experience in Illinois communities that have implemented local smoking bans shows a 40 percent decrease in business once a smoking ban is put in place. Don't let this happen to you. A statewide smoking ban has already passed the Illinois General Assembly. Smoking will be banned in your business as of January 1, 2008-- in just 7 short months. The only way to reverse this is to flood Illinois Senators and Representatives with hundreds of phone calls from hospitality businesses, their employees and customers. This has to be done now-- the legislative session ends in less than two weeks.

ACT NOW !!!

Beginning today, and continuing every day until the Illinois General Assembly adjourns – every bar, nightclub, bowling center and fraternal club must generate at least 10 calls to their State Representative and State Senator insisting bars and fraternal clubs be exempted from the new statewide smoking ban.

You can find out who your Illinois Senator and Representative is and their phone number by calling (217) 782-2000 or by going on the Internet to the following web address: http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx.

Don't sit idly by and let them ruin your business.Make the phone calls. Thank you