This is significant because few national restaurant chains have promulgated a national policy. Usually they abide by whatever the local law is.

Ruby Tuesday representatives said they made the decision for the comfort of their patrons and the health of their employees. The announcement [...]]]> Ruby Tuesday is going smokefree — in all 674 of its U.S. restaurants.

This is significant because few national restaurant chains have promulgated a national policy. Usually they abide by whatever the local law is.

Ruby Tuesday representatives said they made the decision for the comfort of their patrons and the health of their employees. The announcement coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout.

Let’s hope other restaurant chains follow. After all, being smokefree is good for health and good for business.

Then the measure passes. The sky, amazingly, doesn’t fall. Restaurants and [...]]]> It always happens this way:  A city or state considers passing a smokefree workplace law that includes bars and restaurants. A hue and cry ensues. There is much debate, and some predict the end of civilization as we know it if the measure is enacted.

Then the measure passes. The sky, amazingly, doesn’t fall. Restaurants and bars thrive. And the new law becomes wildly popular.

That’s what has happened in North Carolina. According to a new poll conducted by the Survey Research Unit at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, 72 percent of adults in the state support the law, which took effect Jan. 2 and makes restaurants and bars smokefree. And a lot of people are going out more.

Smoke that!