AUGUSTA, Maine - The governor approved a law Tuesday that will ban people from lighting up in bars, making Maine the latest in a growing line of states to restrict smoking.

The new law will move Maine closer to banning smoking in all indoor public places. Smoking is already prohibited in restaurants in Maine, and the law makes it illegal to smoke in lounges and taverns, pool halls and certain off-track betting sites. "Today I am signing into law a historic step toward providing cleaner indoor air to all Maine people," Gov. John Baldacci said. The governor said Maine stands to be the fifth state to mandate smokeless bars and that experience elsewhere demonstrates that "this law is actually good for business," allowing establishments to retain most regular customers while attracting new ones.

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