A drive kicks off this week to ban smoking in New Orleans bars.
Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell is backing the idea. She says the change would benefit local businesses.
“This has been going on across the country for over a decade now," she said. "And so we have real facts that it is not a negative impact on our businesses. Actually revenues increase. And it’s cheaper to maintain a bar or lounge that is smoke free than one that is not.”
Cantrell says the effort will begin at various venues this week that are now voluntarily smoke-free.
She says the issue could be decided by the City Council voting on a smoke-free ordinance — and would not require a citywide election.
