New Hampshire Smoking Ban

New Hampshire officially joins the rest of New England today.  A smoking ban for bars and restaurants has been signed into law.  Thank freaking goodness!  While I respect my smoking friends and their interest in being able to stink up everything around them I am very happy to have smoking banned. 

The law takes effect in 90 days so smokers will be able to enjoy the rest of the summer.  It will be interesting to see if any restaurant changes early, or if they have a smoking party to mark the end.  Interestingly of my favorite bars in Portsmouth, two of the top 4 are smoking bars.  The Brewery went non smoking a couple years ago and had a short drop in traffic and then a boom in sales after that.  Their clientèle changed, however.  Some people just went elsewhere.  What will happen to the final bars that held out to the end?  I suspect those that held out will suffer the worst.  But then again, where will those customers go?  VFW? (private halls and such are exempt)

I am surprised, actually, that so many restaurants and bars held out so long.  The writing has been on the wall for a years now and lost last year by just one vote.  It was bound to happen and the bars that waited until the end were the most likely to suffer from customers going elsewhere or just staying home more often.

At any rate, I feel for the restaurant owners.  I know they are pissed and worried.  (though I know others have been hoping for some time, but can't say it publicly)  The Press Room and the Coat of Arms (coat of smoke) will get more business from me, not less.  Hopefully it will be the same from other patrons and help smooth the bumpy ride.