In 1998-99, the restaurants owners in other states didn't think they had any recourse. Finally, today, they see that they DO have recourse, and they aren't going to take this anymore.
Too many businesses across the US are floundering and going out of business. The ones today see that and do not want to go down the jolly green trail for a special interest group with only one goal in mind: control, restrict and ban the smokers!
Guess what!
These special interest groups could care less about the hurting economy. Their one and only goal is to ban smokers. Come hell or high water, that is their goal.