Restaurant Related News

Maine Passes Smokefree Bars and Pool Halls

Senate vote 32-2 in favor; House votes 95-47 in favor

By Joe Cherner
Published: June 15, 2003

AUGUSTA, Maine is poised to become the nation's fifth smokefree state joining California, Delaware, New York and Connecticut. The smokefree legislation, which passed Maine's Senate 32-2 and Maine's House 95-47, is awaiting Governor John Baldacci's signature. Governor Baldacci has said he would sign the legislation and is expected to do so early this week.

Having already passed smokefree restaurant legislation four years ago, Maine has seen the benefit of smokefree laws. Consequently, opposition to this year's bar and pool hall proposal was minimal.

"We're tired of working in an environment that is not safe or healthy," said Rep. Leila Percy, a Phippsburg Democrat who works as a singer and bandleader in the haze of clubs where smoking is currently allowed.

Rep. Roger Landry said that after his decade-long battle against cancer, he puts health concerns over personal freedoms cited by the bill's opponents.

"ALL workers (including office restaurant, bar, bingo, bowling, casino, tavern, pub and nightclub workers) deserve a safe, healthy, smokefree work environment," says Joe Cherner, President of SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc. "Laws should treat the health of all workers EQUALLY. No one should have to breathe tobacco smoke pollution to hold a job, because it causes cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease."