California restaurant owner slams plastic gift card ban as ‘absurdity at its peak’.
Chef Andrew Gruel Slams California’s Plastic Gift Card Ban
Chef Andrew Gruel, a renowned restaurateur and Food Network judge, is speaking out against California’s latest environmental legislation that aims to ban plastic gift cards. Gruel argues that this move will have a negative impact on local businesses.
“California Senate Bill 728 is banning the sale of plastic gift cards. This is peak absurdity and WILL hurt businesses,”
Gruel, who owns Calico Fish House in Huntington Beach, California, as well as several other businesses in the state, criticizes California lawmakers for not considering the potential decrease in revenue from gift card sales.
“Besides the fact that this has zero effect on the environment, this will decrease gift card sales overall. Many people want a tangible card to offer as a gift, and most ‘older’ guests won’t buy a virtual card,”
The plastic gift card ban was introduced by Democratic California state Sen. Monique Limon, who aims to promote more environmentally friendly gift card options. However, Gruel questions the logic behind this decision and highlights the hypocrisy of allowing other plastic cards to remain in use within the state.
If signed into law, the legislation would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
Impact on Restaurants and Businesses
The ban on plastic gift cards would particularly impact restaurants and businesses, as they could face civil penalties for violating the provisions of the bill.
However, the bill specifies that the ban does not apply to plastic cards used for public transit fares.
Gruel’s concerns about the potential negative consequences of this legislation on local businesses echo the sentiments of many others in the industry.
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