I am writing in reference to the Maine smoking law.

I do not feel that all Maine people should be penalized because there are only a few people who do not smoke.

If I’m going out to eat I enjoy a cigarette after I eat. A few years ago, people in Maine had a choice of smoking or non-smoking seating in restaurants. I feel they should go back to that system. It certainly made things a lot easier.

If people don’t like the smell all they have to do is not enter the smoking part of that establishment. It’s as simple as that.

Smokers are losing all their rights to a few people and it’s not fair for everyone to be punished for the sake of anyone. People shouldn’t have to suffer and be made to go outside in the cold and wet just because a few people don’t like it.

Furthermore, if bars lose their smoking privileges they are definitely going to ruin their business because when people drink they like to smoke with their drinks.

I grew up in the 1950s and, in those days up until now, almost everyone smoked in the house and other places, when they wanted to and where they wanted to.

It certainly didn’t make a difference in our health, so why so much fuss now?

Bruce Wotton, Auburn