[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday April 12, 2005 at 12:31am]
Big Food behind Smoking Bans?
It has started. A mom and pop diner my wife and I have enjoyed almost every weekend for at least ten years abruptly closed just ten days after the Hennepin County smoking ban took effect. This is unofficial until we reach the owners, but it's the way to bet.
We then went to another small locally owned restaurant, and their staff is clearly worried and with good reason. They appeared at least a third less busy. I'll be watching a few others.
I wonder. Could the big franchises like Perkins, IHOP, and Denny's have something to do with these smoking bans? They would have the greater efficiency, advertising, and financing to transition better than a sole owner/operator. They pick up the non-smoking business and at least a portion of the smoking business that is willing to endure an hour of deprivation.
Maybe someone should check the political contributions of Big Food.
We then went to another small locally owned restaurant, and their staff is clearly worried and with good reason. They appeared at least a third less busy. I'll be watching a few others.
I wonder. Could the big franchises like Perkins, IHOP, and Denny's have something to do with these smoking bans? They would have the greater efficiency, advertising, and financing to transition better than a sole owner/operator. They pick up the non-smoking business and at least a portion of the smoking business that is willing to endure an hour of deprivation.
Maybe someone should check the political contributions of Big Food.