[Squawk 8888]

they are controlled by the big chains (Applebee's Olive Garden, Lonstar, TGIF, etc) which can weather the initial downturn in business, unlike the corner diner or tavern, thus eliminating the competition with government guns.

The exact same thing happened when Ontario banned the sale of tobacco in drugstores. Canada's largest drugstore chain is owned by this country's largest tobacco company but they supported the ban because it wiped out their independent competitors. It is now almost impossible to find a drugstore here that isn't controlled by one of two major chains.

[Gabz]

That’s awfull.