Maine: Maine Smoking Ban Drives Smokers Over Border

Join Together Online ^ | 1-23-04

[SheLion]

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.

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[SheLion]

Dr. Mills is SO wrong and sure knows how to put the spin on this issue!  We lost a lot of restaurants during the first year of her smoking ban.  I know one in particular was ready to close it's doors when the owner invested in a very expensive liquor license and big smoke eaters in order to keep the doors open.  Looks like his investment is going to be flushed down the toilet now with the forced smoking ban on his tavern.

 

Dr. Mills wears brown shirts and walks in step with jack boots.  How does she sleep at night?  She isn't interested in people's health.  She just wants to rule and control the whole state!

 

 

Smoking Bans Choking Maine's Economy

 

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.

Legal Product!  Exactly.  If Maine went tobacco free, then Maine Healthy Partners Coalition would be looking for another job, since the taxes smokers pay on the state's cigarettes are paying their wages!

 

[SheLion]

[JoJo Gunn]

"Dr. Mills wears brown shirts and walks in step with jack boots. How does she sleep at night? She isn't interested in people's health. She just wants to rule and control the whole state!"

You're exactly right. There's an underlying Agenda, and it's not about "health". Far from it. sigh There's even a few of her minions around the Freep....

Michael miserable failureMoore

[NewHampshireDuo]

Years ago Maine's answer their their high liquor taxes and subsequent leakage of business to NH was to put a single discount liquor store at the border, in Kittery, ME.
Maybe now Maine will put a single smoking restaurant in Kittery also.

[Gabz]

"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."

I sure would like some of whatever Dr. Mills is smoking..........

I attended a session on FDA control of tobacco at CPAC. In asking a question of the panelists, an MD from upstate NY commented about the myths of second-hand smoke and how there is no evidence to support bans or government control on smoking because most evidence points in the opposite direction, including the buried WHO study.

Rika and I just looked at each other in amazement. An MD actually speaking the truth about what we have been saying all along.

[SheLion]

There's even a few of her minions around the Freep....

Oh yes. I've seen them a lot since I joined FR.

[SheLion]

Maybe now Maine will put a single smoking restaurant in Kittery also.

Your right!  When New York business's were forced to go smoke-free, New Jersey was yelling:

COME TO OUR SIDE COME TO OUR SIDE!

And, New Yorkers are going to New Jersey to spend their money.  Good for Jersey!

[SheLion]

I sure would like some of whatever Dr. Mills is smoking..........

She has blinders on.  She just focuses on what SHE wants to do with the state.  Why didn't SHE run for Governor?  I think both of them are working behind closed doors.

Does Dr. Mills ever listen to the people in Maine and the business owners?  'ell no!  All she knows is that she hates smokers and smoking, and there will be no more in Maine.  GET IT?

(I wonder how much she weighs...........)

[A Navy Vet]

"She said the ban should attract new, non-smoking customers, like the state's 1999 smoking ban did for restaurants."

What an idiotic arguement this is, which I've seen repeated countless times by the "nannies". Bars and restaurants are different businesses. The product is different; the service is different; the customer expectations are different.

I co-owned a niteclub and spent many nights observing the behavior of our customers. We initially catered food into the club from the eatery next door. We discovered that even the smokers would take their food out to the lobby to eat, but then return to have their smoke. Eventually, we stopped the food service because we were losing revenue when our cutomers were outside and not ordering beverages.

Even I, as a smoker, prefer not to smell cigarettes when I'm eating. Apples and oranges.

[djf]

This goes beyond even being called statist. This is about enforcing somebodies personal agenda. Don't for a minute think that if one of these SOB'S decided Tootsie Rolls were bad for you, they wouldn't try to make sure you or anyone else never saw another one.

This has nothing to do with good government. It is using the power of the governmental sword to change society to the way they, and they alone like it.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[claudiustg]

---She said the ban should attract new, non-smoking customers, like the state's 1999 smoking ban did for restaurants.---

That's ridiculous. It hasn't happened in California.People just go outside and smoke. Now they're trying to ban smoking outside the bar!

[1Old Pro]

the myths of second-hand smoke and how there is no evidence to support bans or government control on smoking because most evidence points in the opposite direction, including the buried WHO study.

Let's not let facts get in the way here.

[armymarinemom]

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."

Dumb Dora needs to explore her reasoning.

[SheLion]

This has nothing to do with good government. It is using the power of the governmental sword to change society to the way they, and they alone like it.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

And these people are chosen.  They are NOT elected into office.  They are chosen by the Governor and the lawmakers.  NOT the people.  Yet, they pull us along like puppies on a leash.  I have NO idea how long that Mills will be sitting in her cushy chair.  I sure would like to know, though.

[Gabz]

She has blinders on.

Just like all nanny anti-smoker gnatzies.

[SheLion]

Let's not let facts get in the way here.

Dr Mills and her ilk think we are sheeple and pretty stupid sheeple out here.  But thanks to forums like Free Republic, the truth is coming out.  She better bone up on the real world out here.

[Gabz]

It hasn't happened in California.

Nor did it happen in Delawar. Some folks are going outside to smoke, but most have either found bars that are ignoring the ban or have started going to Maryland and Pennsylvania, with their non-smoking friends.

[Gabz]

Let's not let facts get in the way here.

Unfortunately, you are correct.

[SheLion]

Dumb Dora needs to explore her reasoning.

That's what I just posted..........Dr. Dumb needs to listen to the real world out here.  Talk about choking off Maine's economy.  What better way then to diss 25-30% of the people?  If any business sees a decrease in revenue of 25-30%, you know they are going to notice it.

(I wonder how much she weighs..................)

 

[tdadams]

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.

Um, yeah, I don't think so. I can see it now, "Hey honey, grab the kids, there's a restaurant 40 miles away in Maine where there's no smoking. Let's go!" That ain't gonna happen.