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Excerpts from: Maine Declares Restaurant Smoke Ban a  Success

      BY GLENN ADAMS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS [09/19/00]

          AUGUSTA, Maine -- On the first anniversary of Maine's ban on
      smoking in restaurants Monday, state health officials declared the law a
      success while restaurant employees observed little change from the days
      when ashtrays were still on the counters.
          "Actually, I don't think it's chased any customers away," said Karen
      Beal, a waitress at Tall Barney's Restaurant in Jonesport and a smoker.
      "It's kind of a nuisance going outside to smoke, but overall, it's good."
          State revenue figures show business in restaurants increased by 7
      percent during the first three quarters the law was on the books, Maine
      Bureau of Health Director Dora Anne Mills said.
          And three surveys since last year show rising public support for the
      law, Mills said. Eighty-five percent of people polled earlier this month
      said they are going to restaurants at least as often as before the law.
          "The tobacco industry and their cronies predicted the sky would fall in
      if this passed," said Mills. "Not only has it been excellent for business, it's
      been excellent for health."
          Beal said Tall Barney's had a very busy summer, and business has
      increased since the law took effect.
          Shirley Richards, a cook at Pat's Pizza in Orono, said the only
      customer who seems to have been affected is a man who used to have a
      cigarette when he came in every morning for coffee. Now, said Richards,
      he takes his coffee outside and sits in his truck.
          Mills said Maine's experience is similar to that of other states and cities
      where smoking bans have been imposed in restaurants. In 1998,
      California became the first state to ban smoking in restaurants and bars.
      Utah, Maryland and Vermont have laws banning smoking in restaurants.