By Greg Bauerlein

If you’re looking to wind down and have a drink and cigarette, your list of places to go just got a lot shorter. However, for the non-smokers looking for a nice night out can expect to go home without that strong smoky smell in their clothes and the haunting smell of the smoke in the hair that will stay with you into the shower the next morning.

“I think there will be a lot of people that will be a lot happier,” said St. John Fisher junior Phil Nelson. “With me being a non-smoker, I know me and a lot of other non-smokers will be able to enjoy a night out without our eyes burning from the smoke.”

About the new anti-smoking bill

The anti-smoking mandate was passed on March 26th 57-4 in the state Senate, and 97-44 in the Assembly, according to the Naples Daily News. The bill will go into effect in 120 days from the passing of the bill, which will be on July 24th. Places that smoking will be prohibited in will be indoor workplaces including bars and restaurants, public transportation, bowling alleys, pool halls, outdoor dining services, and a list of others. Exceptions to include personal homes and cars, Indian casinos, cigar bars that have been already licensed, airport smoking lounges, and hotel/motel smoking reserved rooms.

Kris Trpevski, patron of the local bars Third Base and 67 West, thinks that this bill will not have much of an effect on the customers.

“People come to the bar to have a good time period,” said Trpevski. “I don’t think that not being able to smoke inside the bar will stop people from having a good time and stop them from coming, they’ll just have to change some of their habits.”


Out of State Reaction

New York State now joins other states with tough anti-smoking laws such as Florida and California. Other states have less strict policies, but many currently have proposed bills such as New York that will really crack down on smoking in public places.

“I haven’t really heard much about a bill as strict as New York’s being passed here in PA,” said Liz Bartlesman, bartender and part-owner of the Gingerbread Man Lounge in Gettysburg. “I really think that something like this would definitely hinder our bar’s business and many others. People come here for a place and an environment that they can have a drink, smoke, and relax. Taking this privilege away will anger a lot of people.”

Reaction from smoker

A common feeling among most smokers was perhaps offered by Rochester native Michael Rathke, a patron of Steve’s tavern in Rochester.

“It is peoples’ right if they want to smoke. If they are worried about people getting cancer and second-hand smoke, why don’t they just go ahead and ban something else that causes cancer like tanning. It’s just ridiculous and I'm not really happy about the new law.”

Additional Links

-Law Article

-Naple Daily News Smoking Ban Article

-CLUBS/BARS - buffalo-entertainment.com