How many other Georgia restaurants are suffering as well?
?
The Georgia Smoking Ban–Two Years Later
June 30, 2007
Comrades, here in Georgia we are approaching the two-year anniversary of the statewide smoking ban. July 1 marks the anniversary.?
???? How are things going in Georgia?? Well, the ban is virtually never mentioned.? It seems, at least on the surface, that Georgians have accepted the ban as normal.? The news media is silent, and I do not hear people even mentioning the ban in conversations.?
???? However, as an anti-ban activist who knows what to look for I know that much is not roses regarding the smoking ban.? I can provide examples from personal observations.? I see the Huddle House here in Barnesville with its parking lot that is virtually empty most of the time. Recently, the parking lot was repaved to make it look better, and a message got posted on the sign out front that stated that the restaurant had a new manager.? Now, folks, when a restaurant has nothing better to brag about than having a new manager one has to wonder.? On the other hand, a small chain restaurant here in Barnesville, Milano’s, does allow smoking in its bar and is a rather popular smoking hangout during lunchtime.? Over in the nearby town of Thomaston a couple of bars appear to have shifted more toward selling food during the daytime in order to cash in on a smoking crowd, whereas the Huddle House in Thomaston is closed down.? Last summer the bowling alley in Jackson, near Barnesville, was so desperate for league players that it advertised by sending professors at my college an e-mail.? In Gilmer County, the county I grew up in, I am aware of at least three restaurants that are closed now, and the buildings sit empty month after month after month.? It is particularly interesting that one of the restaurants that closed had a smoking patio.? As for the local pool hall that had been a pool hall for half a century, it converted into being a more “respectable” family restaurant.? It is so lame that it now closes down at 5:00 in the evenings.? As for smoking establishments in Gilmer County I know of maybe three, and two of them are open only on weekends.?
???? Ignorance is not bliss on the smoke ban issue.? I believe that there is great potential to make hefty profits in the Georgia restaurant industry by running adult-only smoking establishments, which are allowed under the law.? Yet few restaurant owners are willing to take the plunge.? In some parts of the state it is difficult to find adult-only establishments.?
???? On a positive note–though counties and cities can pass stronger local bans, few have do so recently.? In addition, I do not get the sense that the state legislature is in a mood to strengthen the Georgia ban either.? That is good news for establishments that have chosen to cater to a smoking clientele.?
???? On a down note–the ban is still on the books.? Some businesses are still hurting.? I have NO desire to see the ban strengthened in this state.? However, the ban here is SO weak that it seems to have stifled any would-be opposition.? This leads me to conclude that, unless the legislature strengthens the ban or unless many more municipalities pass bans, the battle against the Georgia smoking ban will, in a sense, be fought in far off blanket ban states and countries.? Perhaps places like Hawaii, Colorado, Ohio, and/or the United Kingdom.? If resistance grows and is successful in such places then maybe some of that success will trickle down to my home state.??
Jeremy Richards, Ph.D.
June 30, 2007
Comrades, here in Georgia we are approaching the two-year anniversary of the statewide smoking ban. July 1 marks the anniversary.?
???? How are things going in Georgia?? Well, the ban is virtually never mentioned.? It seems, at least on the surface, that Georgians have accepted the ban as normal.? The news media is silent, and I do not hear people even mentioning the ban in conversations.?
???? However, as an anti-ban activist who knows what to look for I know that much is not roses regarding the smoking ban.? I can provide examples from personal observations.? I see the Huddle House here in Barnesville with its parking lot that is virtually empty most of the time. Recently, the parking lot was repaved to make it look better, and a message got posted on the sign out front that stated that the restaurant had a new manager.? Now, folks, when a restaurant has nothing better to brag about than having a new manager one has to wonder.? On the other hand, a small chain restaurant here in Barnesville, Milano’s, does allow smoking in its bar and is a rather popular smoking hangout during lunchtime.? Over in the nearby town of Thomaston a couple of bars appear to have shifted more toward selling food during the daytime in order to cash in on a smoking crowd, whereas the Huddle House in Thomaston is closed down.? Last summer the bowling alley in Jackson, near Barnesville, was so desperate for league players that it advertised by sending professors at my college an e-mail.? In Gilmer County, the county I grew up in, I am aware of at least three restaurants that are closed now, and the buildings sit empty month after month after month.? It is particularly interesting that one of the restaurants that closed had a smoking patio.? As for the local pool hall that had been a pool hall for half a century, it converted into being a more “respectable” family restaurant.? It is so lame that it now closes down at 5:00 in the evenings.? As for smoking establishments in Gilmer County I know of maybe three, and two of them are open only on weekends.?
???? Ignorance is not bliss on the smoke ban issue.? I believe that there is great potential to make hefty profits in the Georgia restaurant industry by running adult-only smoking establishments, which are allowed under the law.? Yet few restaurant owners are willing to take the plunge.? In some parts of the state it is difficult to find adult-only establishments.?
???? On a positive note–though counties and cities can pass stronger local bans, few have do so recently.? In addition, I do not get the sense that the state legislature is in a mood to strengthen the Georgia ban either.? That is good news for establishments that have chosen to cater to a smoking clientele.?
???? On a down note–the ban is still on the books.? Some businesses are still hurting.? I have NO desire to see the ban strengthened in this state.? However, the ban here is SO weak that it seems to have stifled any would-be opposition.? This leads me to conclude that, unless the legislature strengthens the ban or unless many more municipalities pass bans, the battle against the Georgia smoking ban will, in a sense, be fought in far off blanket ban states and countries.? Perhaps places like Hawaii, Colorado, Ohio, and/or the United Kingdom.? If resistance grows and is successful in such places then maybe some of that success will trickle down to my home state.??
Jeremy Richards, Ph.D.
“A Visit to the Waffle House”
My dad and I were traveling through northern Georgia
on my Spring break.? On March 7 we decided to stop and
eat at a Waffle House in northeast Georgia near an
interstate.? Though I do like some of the food, I have
avoided going to Waffle House, in part because if I go
alone I cannot sit at a booth table and also because I
do not like the fact that after the Georgia smoking
ban law came into effect Waffle House chose to “wimp
out” and go smoke free.? Now, I am no smoker, but I
know that Waffle House has historically been a noted
smoker hangout.? Under the Georgia law, as I
understand it, the Waffle House could have created a
separate dining area for smoking or could have gone
“adults only.”??????
on my Spring break.? On March 7 we decided to stop and
eat at a Waffle House in northeast Georgia near an
interstate.? Though I do like some of the food, I have
avoided going to Waffle House, in part because if I go
alone I cannot sit at a booth table and also because I
do not like the fact that after the Georgia smoking
ban law came into effect Waffle House chose to “wimp
out” and go smoke free.? Now, I am no smoker, but I
know that Waffle House has historically been a noted
smoker hangout.? Under the Georgia law, as I
understand it, the Waffle House could have created a
separate dining area for smoking or could have gone
“adults only.”??????
Like most or all of the other major chain
restaurants in Georgia, the Waffle House chose to get
“respectable” and go smoke free.? I think that this
shows a lack of understanding on the part of the
Waffle House ownership.? If a business does not know
its customers it will suffer.? If the Waffle House
restaurant that my Dad and I stopped in is any
indication, then Waffle House IS indeed suffering from
the smoking ban.????
restaurants in Georgia, the Waffle House chose to get
“respectable” and go smoke free.? I think that this
shows a lack of understanding on the part of the
Waffle House ownership.? If a business does not know
its customers it will suffer.? If the Waffle House
restaurant that my Dad and I stopped in is any
indication, then Waffle House IS indeed suffering from
the smoking ban.????
My Dad and I arrived at the restaurant during the
middle of lunchtime, shortly after 1:00 P.M., if I
remember correctly.? The restaurant was only about 80%
full.? Actually, it may have been more like only 75%,
because there should probably have been a few people
sitting waiting for seats.? Not only was the number of
customers down, there were obviously too many
employees as well.? The restaurant had six on duty,
which was about two too many.??????
middle of lunchtime, shortly after 1:00 P.M., if I
remember correctly.? The restaurant was only about 80%
full.? Actually, it may have been more like only 75%,
because there should probably have been a few people
sitting waiting for seats.? Not only was the number of
customers down, there were obviously too many
employees as well.? The restaurant had six on duty,
which was about two too many.??????
As for the food prices–put it this way, I
ordered a chicken sandwich that cost me $3.25.? I
noticed that the menu had been printed back in 2005.
Wait, hmm, 2005 which just happens to be the year that
the ban took effect.? Could it be that Waffle House
raised its prices to compensate for lost customers?
Could it be that my chicken sandwich, prior to the
ban, would have cost, oh maybe $3.00 instead of $3.25.
?I cannot say for sure, but since I am aware of the
tricks that restaurants use to offset smoke ban losses
I would not be surprised if Waffle House raised prices
in order to compensate.????
ordered a chicken sandwich that cost me $3.25.? I
noticed that the menu had been printed back in 2005.
Wait, hmm, 2005 which just happens to be the year that
the ban took effect.? Could it be that Waffle House
raised its prices to compensate for lost customers?
Could it be that my chicken sandwich, prior to the
ban, would have cost, oh maybe $3.00 instead of $3.25.
?I cannot say for sure, but since I am aware of the
tricks that restaurants use to offset smoke ban losses
I would not be surprised if Waffle House raised prices
in order to compensate.????
As for the customers that were there.? I figure
that most were non-smokers.? However, I noticed that a
few guys when they left did go out and smoke.? One has
to wonder, would they have stayed longer and tipped
more if the ban had not been in effect?? In addition,
I saw another individual, who I believe bought a pack
of smokes at a neighboring convenient store, come in
and pick up a takeout order.? If the ban had not been
in place would he have come in, have sat, eaten his
meal, and then tipped the waitress.? Whatever the
case, that was a potential tip that a hardworking
waitress never got.
????
After our meal, when my Dad and I had left, we
discussed what we had witnessed at the Waffle House.
We both concluded that at least that particular Waffle
House was being hurt heavily by the smoking ban.? How
many other Georgia restaurants are suffering as well?
that most were non-smokers.? However, I noticed that a
few guys when they left did go out and smoke.? One has
to wonder, would they have stayed longer and tipped
more if the ban had not been in effect?? In addition,
I saw another individual, who I believe bought a pack
of smokes at a neighboring convenient store, come in
and pick up a takeout order.? If the ban had not been
in place would he have come in, have sat, eaten his
meal, and then tipped the waitress.? Whatever the
case, that was a potential tip that a hardworking
waitress never got.
????
After our meal, when my Dad and I had left, we
discussed what we had witnessed at the Waffle House.
We both concluded that at least that particular Waffle
House was being hurt heavily by the smoking ban.? How
many other Georgia restaurants are suffering as well?
Dr. Jeremy Richards, Ph.D.
March 19, 2006
March 19, 2006
(c) Copyright 2006 The Smoker’s Club, Inc. Please repost with link back to this original article.
