L.A. Gets Burned by Smoking Ban
Los Angeles’ controversial smoking ban has just claimed its first major casualty--and more than $544,000 in hotel bed taxes and $9.7 million in local retail sales have gone up in smoke.
The National Assn. of Convenience Stores canceled its plans to hold its 1995 annual gathering at the newly expanded Los Angeles Convention Center, saying the ban on smoking in the facility and surrounding restaurants would inconvenience many of its 12,000 attendees and exhibitors.
Spokeswoman Debbie Tucker noted that tobacco accounts for 25% of all sales at 7-Eleven and other convenience stores and that 20% of the annual show’s exhibitors are tobacco companies.
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