No smoking in bars or restaurants in New York State.

I’m not a smoker and don’t especially like being around smoking, so in a Machiavellian way, I’m happy. But, I do believe the law has gone too far. Yes, in NYC where I live, the bars don’t seem to have suffered. But, in the small town where I grew up — where bars tend to serve more as quasi community centers and true hangouts — many of them have suffered tremendously.

Smoking/non-smoking always worked for me at restaurants that were large enough to accommodate that. As for bars, I’d like to see the state offer "smoking licenses" in the same way they offer "liquor licenses." At least there’d be more choice involved, and the state could generate much-needed revenue (to subsequently waste, no doubt).