Keene's First-in-NH Smoking Ban Takes Effect

By Carolyn Martin on Monday, February 11, 2002.

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A new Keene city ordinance that bans smoking in restaurants took effect a week ago.

And as the Keene Sentinel's Carolyn Martin reports, the new law is getting mixed reactions.

(nat sound..cash register)

You don't have to go far in Keene to get an opinion about the new smoking
ban. At Lindy's Diner, smokers who've been regulars for years are adjusting
to life at the counter without an ashtray.

Smoker Joe Allard isn't too happy about it.

Allard: ``I don't come as much because I can't smoke. i don't frequent any of
the restaurants as much as I used to. And it's happening not only with me,
but with other people. We should have the right to smoke.''

Allard's threat to reduce his diner spending was one of the biggest concerns
many restaurant owners had when the law was first proposed last year. They
worried about losing loyal customers.

Supporters of the law contend any losses from patrons who smoke will be
offset by nonsmokers who become new customers.

The law bans smoking in Keene restaurants, except for private clubs.
Restaurants with cocktail lounges had two choices: go smoke free or construct
walls and a separate ventilation system to divide the smoking and non-smoking
sections.

Owners or patrons who violate the law will be fined $200 for the first
offense; $300 for a second offense and $500 for a third offense. Breaking the
law could also be grounds for suspending or revoking the restaurant's
operating permit.

Keene resident and diner Bill Hetherman hasn't smoked in 29 years. He likes
the new law.
``I'm glad I quit. I physically feel a lot better. And I think there's a lot
of people that would like to quit and I think an ordinance like this might
help force them a little bit.''

The Keene City Council passed the law last August, and gave restaurants 6
months to decide their course of action. Almost all have gone totally
smoke-free, rather than make renovations to create a smoking section.

As Keene's landmark diner, Lindy's has been a haven for folks who like to
light up before, during and after their Shepard's Pie and other daily
specials. Although the diner had a nonsmoking section, most of the restaurant
was for smokers. Now it's all nonsmoking.

**I will add bite with Lindy's owner or another restaurant owner here, with a
sentence leading into the bite.***

The new law was proposed and pushed by the Cheshire County Coalition for
Tobacco-Free Youth. The coalition cast the smoking ban as a public health
issue.

It noted tobacco smoke causes cancer, respiratory problems and heart disease.
The group argued that anyone exposed to tobacco smoke--restaurant staff or
patrons--were being harmed. Banning smoking would protect public health, the
group said.

Kristine Dow is the Coalition's coordinator.

Dow: ``We feel that restaurants are workplaces just like any other workplace,
as well as public accommodations. Restaurant owners and the city have a
mandate to protect the public's health. We feel that really is a public
health issue and the community really is wrapping their arms around that and
supporting that.

Keene is the only New Hampshire city with a non-smoking ordinance. A similar
effort recently failed in Nashua. Dow hopes the Elm City will be a model for
other New Hampshire communities that want to take on tobacco smoke in public
places.

For NHPR News, this is Carolyn Martin in Keene.