nEWS
LEGISLATURES CONSIDER
BREATH ANALYZERS
State legislators nationwide have
offered several different proposals
in response to the public's demand
for tougher drunk driving laws.
They include banning the use of
multiple drink promotions such as
Happy Hours, banning open con-
tainers of alcoholic beverages in
automobiles, and raising the drink-
ing age to 21.
In addition, New jersey, Georgia,
California, and other states are con-
sidering a proposal that would
require liquor pouring establish-
ments to have a breath analyzer on
their premises.
While this proposal could reduce
the number of drunk drivers, it may
also provide a new source of reve-
nue for the coin-op amusement
industry. The breath analyzer
machines are a "natural for the
operator," said Charles Knighton,
president of Allstate Distributors,
Ltd., a manufacturer of the BAT
2000, one of the breath alcohol
The Bat 2000
testers on the market which calcu-
lates the user's blood alcohol con-
tent. Knighton believes the crack-
down on drunk driving comes at a
good time for operators since video
revenues have declined.
"This is excellent timing. The
harder the laws get, the more the
business will increase," Knighton
said .
A person's blood alcohol content,
as customarily established by breath
alcohol tests, is used by law enforce-
ment officers to find out if a person
is legally intoxicated. A breath alco-
hol test reading of .10, meaning 1
part alcohol per 1,000 parts blood, is
considered legally intoxicated in
most states.
The BAT operates like standard
vending machines. A person depos-
its coins (usually 50 cents), uses a dis-
posable straw dispensed by the
machine to give the breath sample,
and is then provided with a digital
readout of his alcohol level. If that
level is above the legal limit, a
flashing " Caution Alert" warning
appears.
A breath analyzer machine is not a
fad, and it can have a long life,
Knighton said. "Operators don't
mind what it will cost as long as it will
last," he added. "As long as people
drink, there will be a need for our
product."
•
TWO JOHN PHILLIP TUBAS OPENED
Two new john Phillip Tuba Enter-
tainment Restaurants have opened
in Brentwood, Tennessee, and Ft.
Myers, Florida.
Both locations will carry a full
food menu featuring charcoal
broiled "Bandmaster Burgers from
Around the World," a salad gazebo,
full meals from chicken wings to
steak fingers, homemade ice cream,
handmade ice cream cones , and ice
cream desserts.
In addition to food, John Phillip
Tuba's presents musical entertain-
ment featuring John Phillip Tuba
and Pablo Pistachio-two robotic
14
characters crooning out the favorite
songs from yesteryear. The restau-
rants also feature an Electronic Park
of 40 to 50 of the newest videos,
complete with a kiddie area for
attracting birthday parties.
Both franchises are negotiating
on other locations to open and
expand in their areas .
In addition to the two openings,
John Phillip Tuba's has also sold two
more franchises. The first is the John
Phillip Tuba restaurant located in
the Coconut Creek Plaza in Coconut
Creek, Florida, presently operated
by the company. This is a John
Phillip Tuba Pizza Theater that
showcases Italian specialties , stan-
da rd menu items, and a complete
line of homemade ice cream des-
serts. The other recently contracted
Tuba franchise will be located in Sun
Plaza, Lauderhill , Florida . This unit is
presently under construction and
will carry a full food menu as the
Brentwood and Ft. Myers locations.
These units bring the total
number of Tuba locations now
opened to 10 and franchised and
contracted units to 33. Three more
franchise locations will probably be
opened this fall.
•
PtA Y METER. October 1 5. 1984