Applebee's will ban smoking

Tribune Chronicle ^ | 05/11/04 | Staff, wire reports

[MissTargets]

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Applebee's restaurants in Niles and Boardman will be among those in Ohio that will go nonsmoking after a decision by Thomas and King, the nation's 11th-largest restaurant operator, the company announced Monday.

The policy at the Niles restaurant will take effect Monday and be implemented at all stores by month's end, the company said. Robert Holmes, 83, of Warren said he'd like to see other restaurants follow Applebee's lead in the no-smoking policy.

''Second-hand smoke is known to be bad for people,'' Holmes said Monday at the Eastwood Mall. ''Smoking spoils my dinner.''

Holmes, a former tobacco user, said he has eaten at Applebee's in Niles several times.

Besides Ohio, the smoking ban also will take effect at the franchise company's Applebee's and Johnny Carino's restaurants in Kentucky, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Indiana locations, the company said. Franchises owned by other operators would not be affected.

Mike Scanlon, Thomas and King's chairman and chief executive officer and vice-mayor of Lexington, was a vocal supporter of the city's indoor smoking ban that went into effect April 27. Scanlon said the timing of the company's action was coincidental.

''I can see both sides of the issue,'' Scanlon said. ''However, as a businessman, I need to listen to my customers and do what I believe is right for my business.

''While this decision will inconvenience a small percentage of our customers, I am certain that our new policy will attract many new customers who are seeking a smoke-free dining experience,'' he added.

Some of Thomas and King's nearly 80 restaurants already are smoke-free, including those in cities with municipal smoking bans such as Lexington and Tucson, Ariz. Scanlon said three restaurants the company has opened in the last year - one each in Arizona, Ohio and Kentucky - are smoke-free by choice.

Six months ago, the company banned smoking for employees. Scanlon said two of the company's nearly 6,000 workers quit over the issue.

Applebee's, based in Overland Park, Kansas, operates about one-third of its locations with the rest run as franchises.

[Madame Dufarge]

LOL!!

At least your sense of humor survived.

[Naspino]

I already answered that.

[Skooz]

Uugghh...then don't?

Your original reply inferred that as long as no one could cite a credible study that stated that second-hand smoke is dangerous, no one should be concerned about inhaling it.

My point is that that is not the issue. Inhaling others' lung excrement is unpleasant, regardless of the health consequences, if any.

[texasbluebell]

Their food should be banned too.

That is the absolute worst food I've ever eaten in my life, without exaggeration.

[Gabz]

I believe that anyone having to bear ANY cost for treating ANYONE else is immoral...........it's got nothing to do with smokers or non-smokers.

I happen to be one of those lucky folks that has never had to worry about a weight problem................yet I am forced to subsidize the health costs of those who can't control themselves when it comes to how much they eat. Of course there is no outrage about that.....no the outrage is against me because I happen to be a smoker.

I absolutely love double standards.

[Mears]

Re your post #133.

I take offense at your statement and I'm sure others will agree with me.

Painting with a rather broad brush,aren't you?

[Mears]

Yes,I would say screw the kid with the allergy.

The child shouldn't be in day care and can be home schooled but all others shouldn't have to pay the price for one child's allergy.

[nevergore]

Noooo...that wasn't my point.....

Mine was a response to KCV's insistence that second hand smoke was proven harmful and constituted a direct threat to life.....

My point was that at best it is simply an irritant to some and a annoying smell to many......

I solicited KCV to provide a documented scietific study to back up his/her claims to which none have been forthcoming, nor ever will......

Please feel free to be concerned about whatever you like....just don't be like some on this forum who believe it's their moral obligation to pontificate how others should lead their lives when it doen't impact them directly.

I like that little word called "Freedom"....

NeverGore :^)

[Naspino]

Boy, 12, Accused of threatening allergic teacher With peanut butter cookie

Police Probing Peanut-Planting Under Firefighter's Bed

[Phantom Lord]

When will you start an organization, "People for a peanut free America" to protect Americans from the dangers of peanuts? Clearly these things need to be banned and the American landscape cleansed of them.

[Gabz]

My dear FRiend............being considered trailer trash is actually one of the more pleasant things I have been called by the anti-smoker gnatzies.

[Ditter]

>>>Tell me why it is that while cigarette smoking hasbeen declining steadily over the years that allergies & asthma has been on the rise>>>>>

Your question is based on the false premis that smoking is the only thing that causes asthma & allergies. It is not. There are many enviromental things that cause allergic reactions including asthma. Also food chemicals & additives are often to blame. As an example, some people are allergic to corn.

Next time you are in a grocery store read a few labels, see how many products contain corn flour, corn starch, corn syrup & corn oil. This was not the case a few years ago.
Tobacco smoke is a problem for some sensitive people but hardly the only problem.

[SheLion]

Thanks for the ping. I need to catch up on this. First I heard about this. Thanks Mears!

[Madame Dufarge]

But since you tried to confuse things, isn't it interesting that the trailer-park babe giving the thumbs up on the nekkid Iraqis had a cig in her mouth?

Why don't you explain what you find so "interesting?"

[Mears]

The insult that really makes my hair stand on end is the "bad mother" accusation hurled at mothers who smoke.

The posters on this thread have avoided that one,thank God.

[FrankR]

"I should be forced to inhale your smoke because?"

Your rights take precedence over my rights because...?

Will you give up your self-righteousness when they come for your:

(a) Gun
(b) Fast Food
(c) SUV
(d) Money [read: taxes]
(e) Freedom of Speech
(f) Freedom of Religion
(g) Children
(h) All of the above

Oh...they've already done, or, are doing, all of that...

Well, look at it this way, when we're all in socialist bread lines to survive, at least you'll have the satisfaction that no one is smoking...that would hurt your chances for starving to death.

Meanwhile, that chipping sound you hear is the left, incrementally eroding your rights as an American. Losing which item/possession/freedom will make you finally stand up?

BTW, I've known "social smokers" who light up one after another at parties, etc...but NEVER INHALE. Even our previous commander-in-chief "didn't inhale"...so why would you, as an obvious non-smoker, make and effort to inhale other peoples' smoke? Some people would slam their thumb with a hammer, just so they could bitch about the pain.

[Gabz]

I can't tell you how many times I have been called an unfit mother.........I even have a cyber-stalker that desires to have my child removed from my custody because I am a smoker.

Fortunately that turkey is all talk and no action. But his threats had escalated to such a point about 2 years ago that I actually called Child Protective Services and spoke with a senior caseworker about the situation. After she finished laughing we had a very nice conversation in which she asked me numerous questions about my daughter's health, hygiene, eating habits, etc. In the end she informed me that a complaint of child abuse against me, based on our conversation, would result in charges filed against the person making the complaint not against me.

[CajunConservative]

Holmes said Monday at the Eastwood Mall. ''Smoking spoils my dinner.'' Holmes, a former tobacco user, said he has eaten at Applebee's in Niles several times

The only thing worse than a "Holier Than Thou, Non-smoker" is a "Holier Than Thou, EX-smoker"

The thing is as an ex-smoker I am ten times more sensitive to the smell(to the point of nausea) than I was before I quit. It is kind of weird really. I don't care if you smoke, but it really bothers me in a way that it did not prior to taking up the habit and during the habit.

[MissTargets]

Sorry :( I just pinged the puff list.

[Skooz]

Please feel free to be concerned about whatever you like....just don't be like some on this forum who believe it's their moral obligation to pontificate how others should lead their lives when it doen't impact them directly.

Do whatever you want. I will avoid pontificating. I couldn't care less how anyone leads their lives. I just don't want to inhale their lung excrement.