Vorland’s government is planning a nationwide ban on smoking in restaurants. The
objection that the ban would reduce restaurants’ revenues is ill founded. Several towns in
Vorland enacted restaurant smoking restrictions five years ago. Since then, the amount
the government collects in restaurant meal taxes in those towns has increased 34 percent,
on average, but only 26 percent elsewhere in Vorland. The amount collected in
restaurant meal taxes closely reflects restaurants’ revenues.
Which of the following, if true, most undermines the defense of the government’s plan?
A. When the state first imposed a restaurant meal tax, opponents predicted that
restaurants’ revenues would decline as a result, a prediction that proved to be
correct in the short term.
B. The tax on meals in restaurants is higher than the tax on many other goods and
services.
C. Over the last five years, smoking has steadily declined throughout Vorland.
D. In many of the towns that restrict smoking in restaurants, restaurants can maintain
separate dining areas where smoking is permitted.
E. Over the last five years, government revenues from sales taxes have grown no
faster in the towns with restaurant smoking restrictions than in the towns that have
no such restrictions.

what is the conclusion here?