We have written quite extensively on the smoking ban in the UK and I must say that I was very surprised to find out that this does not apply to bingo clubs in the US as the US has had a clean air ordinance in place for a long time now. Apparently until now this has not applied to bingo clubs and now three clubs are to be made smoke free in the near future.
The US bingo industry is allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to be smoke free or not and although this rule varies dependent upon the state. This is also the case in France, not necessarily to bingo clubs but for Café owners.
One of the US bingo club owners said that for the past five years they have had a smoking and non-smoking section in place, but it was all in the same room and they found that the smokers were disturbing the non-smokers. He said that they know they will lose some patronage, but they should also pick up some more non-smokers and in the long run the ban will benefit everyone. It seems pretty certain that other US bingo clubs will follow suit.
