Bars and Restaurants

The food service industry has had a mixed reaction to smoke-free laws. Restaurant and bar owners have initially been wary of going smoke-free, because they fear the smokers will not continue using their bars or restaurants. In literally thousands of cities that have gone smoke-free, bars and restaurants have thrived, because smokers still want to use the bars and restaurants, and can easily adapt to refraining from smoking just as they do when they enter any other public building.

Many state restaurant associations now support the smoke-free communities movement. They are beginning to realize the other benefits of going smoke-free, such as faster turnaround time for tables, healthier employees, lower facility maintenance costs and lower insurance rates.

The most difficult dilemma for an owner is to go smoke-free voluntarily, while other restaurants and bars in the same area are not smoke-free. This creates an unlevel playing field, which might direct some smokers to change to the competition. Most of the time, owners do not regret this decision, since it brings in much more business from non-smokers than the business that was lost. Keep in mind that less than 20% of the adult public are smokers.

Where the whole community passes smoke-free laws, there is a level playing field for competing businesses. This is another reason that most restaurant associations support state and local smoke-free laws.

Another consideration is the legal risk an owner takes by allowing smoking. Secondhand smoke could adversely affect the health of his employees, and could potentially result in a huge lawsuit.

Here is more good news for restaurant and bar owners about going smoke free:

We serve 435,000 patrons every week," says Mike Scanlon. "And as of June, 2004, all 77 of our Applebee's are 100% smokefree.

"Everyone in our Midwest focus groups last year said to go smoke-free. And I knew from our locations in smokefree communities that there would be no problem financially.

"It's all about building traffic and giving guests what they want. If what they want is also going to be good for business, of course I'm going to do it. Why wouldn't you do what the overwhelming majority of your customer base wants?

"The future of our business is smokefree. If it isn't in your city yet, it will be. Going smokefree now lets you make a favorable impression on guests who will be regulars when a smokefree measure passes, like in Lexington, Kentucky.

"Oh, by the way, if anybody tries to sell you a ventilation 'solution' instead, don't buy it. We tried them and they don't work. It's easier and cheaper to just go smokefree.

"I've got the numbers to prove it."

Mike Scanlon
CEO, Thomas & King
Lexington KY