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Smokers Count Down Last Few Hours Before Ban

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Sep 10, 2008 2:55 pm US/Eastern

Smokers Count Down Last Few Hours Before Ban

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The statewide smoking ban goes into place at midnight, barring smoking at nearly all public places.

So most of the smokers that KDKA caught up with today are trying to deal with it, saying there isn't much they can do about it anyway.

"As a smoker, looking at it from the nonsmoker's point of view, got to do what you got to do," said Marcia Vitai.

But for many restaurant and bar owners, it is a little bit of a bigger deal. They say they are very concerned about how this latest government restriction may affect their business.

"I'm going to deal with it and I don't think my customers will mind too much," said Scott Davis, owner of The Pickle Barrel on the South Side. "Hopefully, they keep coming in."

But it is a big change for the South Side's many restaurant and bar owners. For them, it means no more setting up ashtrays and no more smoking within 15 feet of an establishment that does at least 20 percent of its sales in food.

Meanwhile, Penny Folino, owner of Tom's Diner and Folino's restaurant, says she hopes it will be a positive.

"We look at it as a positive thing," said Folino. "A positive thing is happening, a much cleaner atmosphere, and you know, a healthier environment. People are really concerned about their health and well-being and working out every day, and maybe this will be something that will help them cut down on smoking."

But she is quick to note that financially, it has been a tough year for her bartenders between the drink tax and the smoking ban.

"We are getting beat up, aren't we?" she added.

Now, she says the biggest concern is trying to figure out where she can tell her customers to smoke, and whether or not their outdoor patio seating complies with the law's new 15-foot rule.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this story.




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