The New Hampshire Senate narrowly defeated a bill yesterday that would have banned smoking in the state’s bars and restaurants.

The measure, which easily passed the House this week, failed by a vote of 12 to 11. Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, said he would have signed the bill had it passed.

Fourteen states and a number of municipalities have banned smoking in all workplaces in recent years, although a coalition in New Jersey is suing to keep that state’s proposed ban from going into effect next week. Last month, Calabasas, Calif., banned smoking in all public places, both indoor and outdoor.

New Hampshire legislators said individual businesses should have the right to decide if their establishments should be smoke-free.

“I believe it should be a decision that the business owner and restaurant owners make on their own,” said Senator Carl Johnson, Republican of Meredith.

Mr. Johnson said the debate over the smoking ban had been the most contentious and surprising in his 14 years as a legislator.

Source: NY Times