Virginia to Ban Smoking in Bars and Restaurants!

With so much change in the past year, it comes as no surprise to find out that Tobacco Country will ban smoking inside bars and restaurants, finally! Following in the footsteps of states like California, New York, and neighbor the District of Columbia, Virginia will soon be among the smoke-free states. With some exceptions, like rooms with their own private ventilation system, and/or private clubs...July 1st will mark the beginning of this new era.

For those of you who don't know why I called Virginia "Tobacco Country," Richmond, VA is home to Phillip Morris, one of the largest manufacturers of tobacco products in the country.

I once did an economic analysis paper for my graduate degree on the Clean Air act in New York City to see the effect of the smoking ban on sales in bars and restaurants. The data collected showed no significant economic effects for local owners in their sales receipts.