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By Shleagh Talbot - GREENVILLE - On Jan. 1, 2004, the new No-Smoking Law (Public Law 493) takes effect in lounges, taverns and pool halls all across Maine. The new law is exactly what it implies - no smoking indoors. Lounge, tavern and pool hall owners were sent packets of material to help them with the transition to a smoke-free environment. MaryBeth Welton, program manager for the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine said in her cover letter with the packets, "We understand that it is not especially easy to tell your friends, neighbors and loyal patrons that they cannot smoke in your establishment. The materials we've enclosed are intended to make implementing the law easier for you and your employees." The packet includes brochures about understanding Maine's new no-smoking law, two large and small "No Smoking" signs, "No Smoking" courtesy cards to hand to customers, and Information/feedback cards to hand out to patrons that want to learn more, or have a beef about the new law. "Handing these cards to your patrons who are upset about the law will hopefully deflect some of their anger - they will have a place to call where their thoughts will be heard," Welton wrote in her letter. Local establishment owners in Greenville are very concerned about the new law. "There's no question it's going to hurt me," said Wendy Campbell, owner of Whiskey Cove in the Moosehead Mall. "It will be very difficult to monitor people once they go outside - in the summer I have concerns about fighting, but the winter is a different story. Ninety percent of my customers smoke, as do my employees. I think people will be staying home more, or, when they do come here, they'll have one drink and leave." Campbell said that handing out cards to people wouldn't be at all helpful. "Most of my customers are people that have been coming here a long time," she said. "For years this has been a place where they can come and relax, and have a cigarette with their drink. What gives the state the right to legislate that they can't smoke?" Chandra and Richard Czopek, owners of the Stress Free Moose, are also concerned. "I'd like to know why this wasn't presented to the people of Maine in some kind of referendum," Chandra said. "We should have least have had the opportunity to put it to a vote. We don't even have the option to come up with alternatives for smokers - like a separate smoking room. We might still see our regular customers, but we probably won't see them as often once this law takes effect," she added. Nicole Jennison who, with her brother Mark, owns Woody's Bar and Grill in Greenville Junction, said she wasn't very impressed with the new law. "It's just going to make a lot more work for us. We'll have to chase people outside to make sure they're not out there drinking, and we'll have to be even more watchful when they visit the restrooms. It's going to be a huge headache. They'll be more tension because of this law and that'll most likely lead to more fights. I'm not looking forward to it at all," she said. Nicole added that they are collecting signatures to revise the law. "The people of Maine need to decide what they want, not just leave it to the lawmakers in Augusta," she added. Leigh Turner, owner of the Black Frog in downtown Greenville said he is also very upset about the new law. "It will affect between 30 and 40 percent of our alcohol sales, I'll probably have to lay off employees as a result," he said ruefully. Turner said the law will be especially hard on businesses in colder climates like Maine. "This isn't a climate like California," he said. "We can't just come up with a nice place to sit outside when there's snow everywhere - imagine shoveling off the barge (on Moosehead Lake behind the Black Frog) for our smoking patrons - not that they'd want to be out there in the winter in the first place. A similar law passed in Massachusetts has had a disastrous effect on lounges and taverns in the Boston area," Turner said. "It's very unfortunate. And as far as I know, none of us were contacted by local representatives concerning this law. There is a petition circulating, however, and if it gets enough signatures, hopefully it will be on the ballot for the June primaries," he added. Auralie and Kevin Adrien, who, with his parents Ron and Nancy Adrien, own Leisure Life Resort, had a different take on the new law as it applies to their Trailside Lounge. "It will affect our business," Kevin said. "But I don't think it will affect us as much as other businesses in the area. We don't have that many patrons that smoke anyway. People should have a right to choose, however, and there's no option for that," he added. The Adriens said that many of their visitors are families with kids. "It's probably better all around," Kevin admitted. "I am a smoker, but with the new law, I'll probably be smoking a lot less." |