Top 10 reasons for a restaurant to become smoke free:
1. Healthy, happy workers - waitresses have the highest death rate of any female occupation. Wait staff have a 50 to 90 percent increased risk of lung cancer due to second-hand smoke.
2. Increased loyalty of patrons with: asthma, allergies, respiratory problems, and children.
3. No markdowns from health inspectors for employees smoking in kitchen.
4. Easier to get insurance.
5. Patrons will smell your specialties instead of smoke.
6. No more complaints about drifting smoke.
7. No more burnt tablecloths, chairs, carpets, or booths.
8. No more butts on dishes.
9. No more ashtrays to clean.
10. Positive Free Publicity.
Other restaurant facts:
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"I feel strongly it is pro-business and pro-health to eliminate smoking in all workplaces including restaurants. Smoke-free workplace legislation does not hurt business." (Source: Michael O’Neal, former president of the New York State Restaurant Association, Nation’s Restaurant News, April 16, 2001.)
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After Maine enacted a smoke-free restaurant law in 1999, state officials found that restaurant business increased 7 percent during the first three months the measure was in effect. Surveys also showed widespread public support for the law. (Source: Associated Press, Sept. 19, 2000.)
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A series of economic studies conducted after New York City enacted a smoke-free ordinance concluded there was no adverse impact on restaurant sales and in some cases, an increase in business was noted. The studies also found widespread consumer support for and employer compliance with the ordinance. "Ultimately, smoke-free legislation is likely to have a positive impact on restaurant-industry revenues... The restaurant industry collectively may experience higher revenues through smoke-free legislation." (Sources: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, January 1999; Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, April 1996.)
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Making restaurants smoke-free would not affect, and may increase, the public’s desire to dine out. 72 percent of Floridians say it would make no difference as to how often they dined out and 59% would be more likely to dine at a restaurant that was smoke-free. (Source: Mathematica Policy Research study, 1996.)
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A significant majority of diners think restaurants should be smoke-free, according to Zagat Survey, publisher of restaurant, hotel and resort guides. 70 percent of New York residents agreed smoking in restaurants should be eliminated; 79 percent in San Francisco and 81 percent in Los Angeles also agreed. (Source: Zagat Survey, September 1994.)
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An analysis of revenues in three states (California, Utah and Vermont) and six cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boulder, CO, Mesa, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ) with smoke-free restaurant ordinances found that such measures "do not appear to adversely affect, and may increase, tourist business." (Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, May 1999.)