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.

[Just another Joe]

I didn't get angry at you.
I did express doubts as to whether you did not support government banning decisions by business owners as to allow or disallow smoking. That was due to a post of yours.
Since you say you don't support it I will take that at face value.

You most certainly have the right to be disgusted by the smell of smoke and to be disgusted by the thought of anyone smoking. Also the right to be in an area that doesn't allow smoking.
I haven't seen anyone accuse you of lying so point me to that post, if you can find one.

[Hildy]

So because people here can't smoke in certain places, and I'm reaping the rewards of that, I should ... do ... what? Enlighten me.

[CSM]

You keep trying to bring it around to "because people here can't smoke in certain places" when in reality it is about the right of the property owner to decide to cater to people like you or people like me. They have the right to do either and we have the right to reward that choice.

In California, they no longer have that right, thereby eliminating our ability to chose. Actually, just eliminating the choice for people like me. You seem to be OK with this. How would you feel if the government passed legislation that eliminated your choice and catered to people like me by forcing all property owners to accomodate smokers?

When we lose respect for private property, which is the case with your state, then we no longer have private property. How will you feel when the tobacco infringement is completed and they move on to food items? What would you do if certain foods were banned at restaurants? How about custody cases being decided based on government approved diet plans? At what point does it stop?

[Gabz]

It's got to be the weather.

Six is right around the corner for mine (july) and her mouth only seems to be immobile when she is asleep.

I have absolutely no clue what grade she is going to be in come September. She's already finished with 1st grade reading and has had a 2nd grade reading specialist tutor since March.

But wait.............that's absolutely impossible. Children of smokers are ALWAYS developmentally disabled, every anit-smoker will tell you that.

[G.Mason]

"....right over his head."

Oh well, some of those juveniles can be "thick as a brick". ;)

Thanks for noticing.

[netmilsmom]

>>Children of smokers are ALWAYS developmentally disabled, every anit-smoker will tell you that.<<

LOLOLOL!!!

[Hildy]

I alread said I'm against it, what would you like me to do..what are you doing?

[Gabz]

Ever since I figured that out I've never had a problem with caffeine withdrawl. I just kept my consumption of it at a lower level.

That's why I have to laugh at these people who call me an addict in regard to cigarettes. I can and do go days on end without a cigarette, but got migraine-like headaches when I abruptly cut back my caffeine intake.

Maybe it's just all the tomatoes and eggplants I eat.

[Just another Joe]

"....right over his head."

Would that be the bullet, the gunsmoke, or the comment? :^)

[Gabz]

I'm so sorry.

I was actually in labor for 14 hours, but didn't bother going to the hospital until after 12 hours. Heck I even sent my husband off to work.......not figuring I would have to call him and make him cut his day short!!!

A friend of mine and I were out shopping and I remember the cashier at the one place looking at me and asking me when I was due. My response was "oh, sometime today" and the baby proceeded to kick again. Everyone around that register had a great laugh.

[RinaseaofDs]

Let me spell it out for you.

Applebee's chief is a hypocrite. He's making his decision more as a political operative than as a CEO.

When knuckleheads like this stand up and say, "It should be banned, because its bad for you." Well, so is drinking, and so, by the way, is the onion soup - unless you're on the Atkins diet.

[Unicorn]

No problem will just ban Applebees.

[CSM]

I am working very hard to ensure that this type of legislation doesn't pass in my state. I am keeping owners of restuarants and bars knowledgable about bills in and out of state so that they understand the risk that they don't even know exists. I am ensuring that even non smokers understand the risks from the anti-tobacco cartels and that it won't stop with tobacco. I ensure that I write the appropriate representatives in my state government. I also prod others to do the same.

In the process of all this, I have also convinced 6 Democrats to vote for GWB again this year.

I think you should do more to defend liberty and less enjoying of the theft of liberty.

[Gabz]

The anti-smokers have already proven that the big arm of big borther can force private businesses to ban smoking.

What they fail to acknowlege is that because they have forced that down the business owner's throats without their permission they have also granted the big brother government the right to mandate that all businesses to permit smoking.

Can you hear now the collective screaming of the ban proponents if legislation was introduced some where forcing all businesses to be smoking permitted?????

Personally I would laugh at them. It's actually the exact thing they are promoting.

[CSM]

That's why they never answer that question. I have a feeling that they know exactly what they are promoting and what it will lead to. But they like that their clothes don't smell after a night out at the club so much that the loss of liberty is worth it to them.

It is a telling sign of the value of liberty to Americans. The surprising thing is that these Americans are frequenting a conservative discussion forum.

[Gabz]

I can't wait for it to be their ox being gored...............the screaming about their rights will be hysterical.

Those advocating the stripping of the rights of private property owners to suit their individual preferences will eventually live to regret it. One of these days it will be their private property rights infringed upon.

There is a reason I chose to move to the country out in the middle of nowhere..........I've got a front row seat to watch the gnatzies consumed by their own fanaticism.

[VermiciousKnid]

Actually, netsmilsmom, I believe the young lady was RAPED while outside. She may have also been stabbed; I don't remember.

Regards,

[netmilsmom]

It may have been raped, I wasn't sure but I remembered something awful happened to her.

(how many people get your screen name?)

[Hot Tabasco]

I'm sure that Applebee's will find many more customers, who avoided inhaling your smoke, by avoiding eating there, to take your place

...they'll have to take my place also.

[VermiciousKnid]

(how many people get your screen name?)

Only the really, really smart ones...*wink*

Regards,