Hooters is one of them, the manager is a friend, he supplied the stats.
>>After their meals, smokers tend to chit chat while smoking,
>>loitering an extra half hour at the table while spending nothing.
You don't know much about the restaurant business.
The people who hang out after a meal (smokers or non) are a huge source of profit. They buy coffee and or drinks and or deserts, which are all very profitable. When they leave without buying any of those things, because they want a smoke, all that profit is lost.