Smoke bans become business opportunities
By M.R. KROPKO, Associated Press Writer
Jan 20, 2007
When Ohio voters last fall banned smoking in public places, Richard Stone got inspired to try to quit his 15-year, one-pack-a-day cigarette habit.
"If I go to a bar, I want to enjoy myself and not think I have to get up every 10 minutes and go outside to have a smoke," said Stone, 30. "I've been smoking since I was 15. Mentally it calms me down. But I know the health aspects of it."
Stone said he had tried using a nicotine replacement patch, but gave up and lit up.
So this time he shelled out some cash to a hypnotist who's combining his nightclub act with a push to quit smoking.
One man's inspiration to stop smoking can be another man's business opportunity — from
hypnotists to makers of cigarette substitute products, anti-smoking pills, nicotine replacement therapies and more — though it's too soon to say whether tougher smoking bans will translate into bigger business.
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The hypnotist, Los Angeles-based performer Rich Guzzi, was advertised as a quit-smoking act at comedy club Pickwick & Frolic right next to a new "no smoking" sign Ohio's law requires.
Guzzi says he hopes to help 100,000 people nationwide quit smoking at $50 per ticket.
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