Restaurants Preparing for Smoking Ban Ahead of New Law
HIGH POINT, N.C. - Some local restaurants are going smoke free ahead of a new law that will ban smoking in bars and restaurants.
Starting January 2, 2010, smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed areas of bars and restaurants, and owners and guests are preparing.
Ric Williams owns the Rixster Grill in High Point, and while he opposes the new law, he's preparing his restaurant for life after smoking.
"Typically drinking and smoking go hand and hand, so I'm going to lose some of those drinking customers. I'm going to fix the patio up and we'll go from there." Williams said.
While smoking will be prohibited indoors, patrons can still smoke on outdoor sections of restaurants as long as the area is not enclosed.
The new law also protects specialty industries, like cigar bars, private clubs and country clubs that are nonprofit. Yet all other businesses will need to make the switch.
Carter Brothers B-B-Q in Archdale has already gone smoke free. Owner Greg Byerly explains that he saw this coming.
"You could see that the smoking section was actually shrinking, so you kind of see that the future is going to be nonsmoking." Byerly said.
The Guilfold County Health Department is sending out packets to restaurant owners in the next few weeks that will help explain the law more clearly.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Source: FOX8 News