Skylark to Implement Total Smoking Ban from Sept.

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)--Japanese restaurant chain operator Skylark Holdings Co. <3197> said Tuesday it will implement a total smoking ban at all of its some 3,200 outlets in the country from September. The group, which runs the Jonathan's and Gusto chains, "wants to prevent unwished passive smoking and cares about the health of customers and some 100,000 employees," said an official of Skylark Holdings. Many Skylark group restaurants have smoking areas separated from nonsmoking areas. The group will remove the smoking areas. END