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Tobacco law.
The prohibition of smoking is not a profitable move by restaurant and bar owners, with new findings showing the new anti-smoking law having a negative effect on local businesses during its first month of enforcement.Establishments of more than 100 square meters are being particularly effected by the new smoking regulations. Those that have opted not to provide zones for smokers in their premises - or have placed a total ban on smoking - have suffered a fall in income of between 20% and 30%. A survey shows that greatest indignation is felt by those business owners operating in the sector who manage premises greater than 100 square meters, who feel discriminated against when compared to similar establishments but of a smaller size. President of the Gremio, lamented that whilst the latter group can be freely decide if they want to allow or ban smoking on their premises, larger establishments are obliged to undertake works in order to provide a zone for smokers, which cannot be greater than 30% of the total floor space available and must be clearly marked, limited and have facilities through which the smoke can be extracted. Business owners operating in the sector have estimated that it costs around 30,000 to create a zone for their smoking clients, a prohibitive amount for the majority of owners running these types of operations which are family-run in many cases.
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