[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I wonder if any of the bars and restaurants will band together and sue the state for restraint of trade. It wouldn't surprise me. With the passage of this law, they're probably just about shut down anyway.

[fight_truth_decay]

Owners I have spoken with say they do not have the time (working long days well into the nights during the tourist season) nor the money to pay lobbyists.

They no longer have to turn away kids accompanied by adults, but not their parents for lunch or dinner which was required and punishable by fines under the 'Class 10 liquor'license (allowing smoking).

What they are unsure of is if this smoking ban will extend to outside seating which was covered under the same Class 10 license.

They also commented that those who held these jobs in smoking establishments did so on their own awareness they would be in a smoking environment, as many eateries do not allow smoking. It was not as if the 'smoking jobs' were the only jobs in that field available..there are plentiful jobs in the restaurant business in Maine during the tourist season. They lose their staff early for college and prefer those that can stay well into the fall.

The question is who will enforce this law. They no longer have liquor inspections and police their own establishments.

Sunday River Ski area owned by the American Ski Corp. had made their mountain smoke free which included all pubs, restaurants and hotels and it has not hurt their business.