Chef Andrew Gruel, a restaurateur and Food Network judge, slammed California’s latest environmental legislation to ban plastic gift cards, which he says will affect local businesses.
“California Senate Bill 728 is banning the sale of plastic gift cards. This is peak absurdity and WILL hurt businesses,” Gruel said on Wednesday.
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He is the owner of Calico Fish House, located in Huntington Beach, California, and has owned numerous other businesses in the state.
The celebrity chef called out California lawmakers for not considering how this will lead to less revenue in gift card sales.
“Besides the fact 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,” he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
California Senate Bill 728 is banning the sale of plastic gift cards. This is peak absurdity and WILL hurt businesses. Besides the fact 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… pic.twitter.com/nZp7XYloXT
— Chef Andrew Gruel (@ChefGruel) September 13, 2023
Democratic California state Sen. Monique Limon introduced the plastic gift card ban to “transition” away from traditional gift cards for more “environmentally friendly gift card options.”
The restriction would hit restaurants and businesses with “civil penalties for violations of these provisions” for using a plastic gift card.
The bill clarifies that the plastic card ban does “not apply to a plastic card used to pay public transit fares.”
Gruel noted the hypocrisy of other plastic cards being used in the state.
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“But don’t worry, credit cards will remain forever as will the California license, Political ID cards, etc.,” he said.
If signed into law, the legislation would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
