AFOC is an organization that is promoting "freedom of choice and free enterprise" for bar and restaurant owners to be able to make the choice to allow or disallow smoking by patrons within their own establishment. As an American in a free enterprise society we should have that right to choose whether to be a smoking or a non-smoking business. As an owner we need to protect our rights to operate our businesses legally and prosperously and in an atmosphere in which our investments were originally made. That original atmosphere has been seriously compromised with the new "smoking laws" that became applicable on May 1, 2007 in the state of Arizona. Consequently, I can personally say, my life investment in my business has clearly been negatively impacted and devalued.

This issue also affects others involved that are associated with our industry. Bartenders, waitresses, distributors, vending, entertainment, advertisers and so on down the line. This is called the trickle down effect. Newspaper articles, surveys, polls, and economists will have you believe that there has not been any impact on bars and everything is fine - or will be fine. Apparently these are the people who do not go to these establishments nor do they smoke. Additionally, it appears that they have not taken the time to obtain the hard number facts from a wide spectrum of the thousands and thousands of small neighborhood establishments that are feeling the effects and will continue to be affected. Some very seriously.

So how's your business doing? Has your business increased from all of the non-smokers that said they would be out in full force? I'll bet these numbers sound more realistic to you: Is your revenue down Ten percent? Twenty percent? Fifty percent? Are you lucky enough to have the opportunity to compete with other establishments that have an option to provide smoking areas for their patrons? Or are you trapped in your investment with no options? We as owners put our heart, soul and life savings into our business and I am not ready to loose what I worked hard for and risked. I'm not ready to lose the family that I have in my establishment. To use a quote from my bar: "Were not just a neighborhood bar were all family". As owners we all need to unite as one big family and make the Arizona public aware of what is truly happening with some real, undistorted facts and that as Americans in a free enterprise system we truly should have the right to choose. Lets get this back on a ballot quickly. Freedom of choice and fair, free enterprise is the issue. Not smoking

Our NEXT organizational meeting will be held on/at:

Watch here for pending dates.
Very shortly we expect to be posting a schedule of meeting dates in various regions of the Valley. We are growing quickly!

To download a printable introduction and announcement flyer that can be printed and distributed CLICK HERE (PDF format - please be patient while document opens). A variety of new and updated flyers will be available here soon!

NOTE: This flyer still reflects the last meeeting date but will be updated soon!

Please print this flyer, make copies and distribute to anyone you feel may have an interest. Every bit of support helps!