Maine Smoking Ban Drives Smokers Over Border
1/23/2004
With Maine's new smoking ban in public places making bars smoke-free as of
Jan.1, some smokers are driving across the border to New Hampshire or Canada to
have a smoke and a drink, the Associated Press reported Jan. 19.
Visiting establishments across the border is a more appealing alternative to
smokers than standing outside in the cold to smoke. Maine bartender Heather
Morin has noticed a drop in business since the ban took effect.
"It's been dead," Morin said. "Business has gone way down."
Dr. Dora Mills, director of the Maine Bureau of Health,
blamed the cold weather for the drop in sales. She said the ban should
attract new, non-smoking customers, like the state's 1999 smoking ban did for
restaurants.
"I think they're going to find that people in New Hampshire are going to
drive to Maine," she said. "In other states and cities there's not
been a sustained drop in business."
Opponents of the ban argue that it's not only damaging to small businesses,
but it also violates the rights of people who are using a legal product.
"You can't legislate morality, they proved that with Prohibition,"
said bar patron John Nickerson. "It's the small business owners that are
suffering."
One person on their side is former state Rep. John Michael, who advised bar
owners to file a class-action lawsuit against the ban.
"It's a typical active legislature bullying one group of people, in this
case smokers, with absolute disregard for how difficult it is to keep a business
running," said Michael.