NH takes first step to ban smoking in bars, restaurants

Publication Date: 2007-02-22

• Author:Norma Love, AP
• Publication:Boston Globe

New Hampshire moved a step closer to its New England neighbors Thursday when the state Senate voted to ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

The bill still must pass the House; supporters are optimistic it will.

Gov. John Lynch has said he will sign it.

Last year, the same measure passed the House easily but died on a 12-11 vote in the Senate. This year, the bipartisan 17-7 vote to approve the same bill is partly due to Democrats assuming control of the chamber in November.

More than a dozen states and hundreds of cities and counties around the country ban smoking in restaurants, bars or both. New Hampshire is the only state in New England that does neither.