If they ban fat people from eating in restaurants in Mississippi, of all places, every restaurant in the state will go out of business. The idea is absurd.

Although, I think the idea of scales at the door is not a bad idea. It could form the basis of a new way to charge for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead of a flat rate where everyone pays the same, they could weigh you on the way in and weigh you on the way out, then charge you by the pound. Whenever I go to one of those places I feel like I am paying the same as some guy who would be banned in Mississippi, and no matter how hard I try, there no way I can cram as much food down my gullet as he can.

The smoking ban is a totally different thing. Smoking is a hazard and nuisance to other patrons and to the employees. I was glad when the smoking ban went into effect here in California, and it must have been more than 10 years ago. I don't think it has affected business. We still have plenty of restaurants, and bars here! I worked at a brew pub that had a no-smoking policy in effect years before the ban, and everyone loved it --- the place actually smelled great and the food tasted better.