No smoking ban starts today

Terry Eyraud enjoyed a cigarette over lunch at The Olde Hickory Tap Room on Friday afternoon.
It will be the last time he can smoke while eating there.

Beginning today, it is illegal to smoke in any restaurant or bar in North Carolina.

"I don't like it," he said, although he admitted it wouldn't stop him from smoking. "I'll just go outside to smoke at restaurants."

Eyraud has smoked for 30 years. He moved to Catawba County from Los Angeles, where it is also illegal to smoke in restaurants. Eyraud said he liked going to a place where you could smoke and eat while dining out.

"Drinking and smoking go together," he said. "If you can't smoke, it takes away the pleasure of having a drink."

Eyraud's friend, who was eating with him, said the state's new law trampled on citizens' rights.

"It's an intrusion on the business owners," said John Snyder, who also smokes. "If people want to go into a smoking area, that's their decision. As long as the areas are separated, it should be a non-issue."

Ruth Ellen also was dining with Eyraud. Although she doesn't smoke, she does oppose the smoking ban.

"I don't smoke and (the smoke) doesn't bother me," Ruth Ellen said. "If it means I can be with the people I care about, it doesn't bother me."

Paul Armbruster and Lisa Harris are former smokers. They said they were pleased when the legislation was approved in May.

"We can enjoy more places," Armbruster said. "There are a lot of places we like but won't go because of the smoke."

Armbruster said he lives in the Blowing Rock area and loves the restaurant, Canyons. However, he doesn't like the smoke in the restaurant. He plans to dine there tonight, enjoying the view of the sunset from the scenic restaurant overlooking the mountains.

Harris said she, too, is looking forward to going into every restaurant and having them be smoke-free. Her only concern is smokers will now all stand outside the front of the restaurant door.

Joe Sample, manager of The Olde Hickory Tap Room, said smokers will be allowed to smoke in front of the restaurant or on the small patio on the back side of the building.

There are no guidelines in the legislation, saying where smokers must go to smoke, only that it cannot be indoors.

The law prohibits smoking in bars and restaurants, although it allows it in the open-air patios of the facilities. No-smoking signs must be displayed at the businesses, and all ashtrays must be removed from the buildings.

The law allows fines of $50 to people who light up after they've been asked by mangers or owners to stop. If a restaurant or bar fails to enforce the law, they could be fined $200 after two warnings.

The law also allows up to 20 percent of a hotel to be reserved for smoking rooms. Smoking also is allowed in cigar bars, tobacco shops, private clubs and TV, theater or live production sets, with the law only applying to the actor or performer.

Private clubs include organizations that are operated by the membership, and are either a nonprofit or are exempt from federal income tax. It includes country clubs.

Sample said most of the employees at The Olde Hickory Tap Room are happy that the can come to work Saturday and it will be smoke-free.

"The bartenders bear the brunt of it," he said. "They're the happiest. And even among the smokers, I haven't heard too many negative comments."

Sample did say that on Friday, he received two phone calls from patrons wanting to know if they could still smoke in the restaurant that day. When Sample told them the new law did not go into effect until today, he said they were happy, and told him they planned to come in to The Olde Hickory Tap Room for one last opportunity to enjoy a meal and a cigarette.

Sample said he's not too concerned about the new law's effect on the business.

"I think business will stay the same," he said. "If anything, it will bring people who haven't been here before because of the smoke."