A number of restaurant associations and chambers of commerce joined that chorus. The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the state's largest business association, said 80 percent of its members supported banning smoking in bars in restaurants.
I sure hope they are aware of what they are voting for! Lot of people stand up against an establishment going smoke free, and the revenue won't be there any longer.
I'm in Ireland right now and a bar that I frequented in the past that was "a jumpin' joint" before the smoking ban here now opens at 12:30 for lunch and closes again at 3:30. PM that is. Not AM. In Ireland for cryin' out loud!
I was in Austin during SXSW recently. They passed their ban in September. I don't know how many bars have closed, if any, but all the ones we were in still had people smoking. When I asked around they said that the police won't enforce it.
I think all of the state's bars and restaurants should be smoke free.
However, they should leave alone the privately owned bars and restaurants.
Not always so.
I was involved with the C Of C 's unsuccessful fight against anti-smoking ordinances and found that after it passed it actually had a positive effect on most business. I knew the owner of a restaurant that converted her business to non-smoking voluntarily before the smoking ban and doubled the revenue after a few years.
Another restaurant that vigorously fought a pending city ban in restaurants also experienced an increase in revenue. That establishment at first went to the expense of establishing a closed off smoking room allowed under the ordinance but converted that room to non-smoking because it did not generate the business expected. They do still have a few tables outside for smokers that are not used much.
One of the local bowling alleys set up a smoking room and the owner told me league revenues increased after the ban went into effect. He said some bowlers that had went to the non-smoking bowling alley across town came back when he made the change. He was also against the ban prior to it's passing.
Even the president of the are restaurant association that was very vocal against the ban told me a few years after it passed that he now thinks it was positive for the business that changed.
See, now that wasn't so hard was it? Private property and personal decisions are part of Liberty. NH, in this case, is telling the creeping socialists to back off.
Glad to see it! You know what a hit our Madison businesses have taken with the Madison Smoking Ban for bars, taverns & restaurants (with bars in them.) The first establishment folded a few weeks ago (Mom & Pop type business; you know, the ones that the libs want to save from Wal-Mart?)...with more to follow, I'm sure. :(
However, the Socialist Elite around the Capitol Square managed to overturn the portion of the ban that included their beloved Cigar Bars. So, now while Joe Six Pack can't smoke in his neighborhood bar, the Wisconsin Senators & CongressCritters can still have their Three Martini Lunches, surrounded by aromatic smoke from their expensive cigars.
It's infuriating!
A smoking ban was passed in Arkansas.
The bill's supporters said they planned to reintroduce it next year.
Not a smoker, never have been, but this is good news in my opinion.
Nanny Government sucks!
"I believe it should be a decision that the business owner and restaurant owners make on their own," said Senator Carl Johnson, Republican of Meredith.
Damn straight, the gov. shouldn't be telling a business what to do as long as smoking itself is still a legal thing to do.