Restaurants

New Video Available on Smoke Free Restaurants
 
Members of the founding board of KIISS worked diligently in the early 1990's to pass California's AB 13, which created smoke-free workplaces and thereby smoke-free restaurants, statewide.

This workplace-smoking ban, which is the strictest in the nation and also includes bars, was implemented in California in 1995. Despite the tobacco industry's warnings that the ban would result in a loss in business for restaurants, the exact opposite has happened. Since the ban began in 1995, California restaurant sales have increased at a rate of four to eight percent annually. Click here for Chart 1, click here for Chart 2.

KIISS sees this as a win-win situation for everyone - restaurant owners, workers and patrons alike. Smoke-free restaurants do work. Despite continued objections and delay tactics from the tobacco industry, smoke-free restaurants will soon be the "norm" for everyone, everywhere, just like the airlines are. It's not a matter of if, it's just a matter of when.

A 100 percent smoking ban is the only solution that works. New ventilation systems can mitigate the odor problems somewhat, but none can remove the tobacco poisons from the air that endanger restaurant workers and patrons.

You can get involved by educating your favorite restaurateurs and your elected officials about the viability of restaurants going 100 percent smoke free. KIISS has smoke-free restaurant decals available to order, plus videos and pamphlets featuring restaurant owners providing supporting testimonials. Please click here to order. KIISS can make presentations to restaurant trade groups too. Just let us know how we can help.