Smokers in restaurants, businesses and bars will be ringing in the New Year with one last public puff of their cigarettes.
The smoking ban, which Gov. Beverly Perdue signed on May 19, goes into effect Saturday, Jan. 2.
Local businesses and restaurants are uneasy about the changes, and most smokers are outraged. Some non- smokers are okay with the changes, others oppose the changes.
The Rowan County Health Department thinks business will increase for those businesses converting to non -smoking only. Some businesses, such as Havana Knights, the cigar bar in downtown Salisbury, will have to shut down all together.
Read the Jan. 1 edition of The Salisbury Post to find out what local businesses, smokers and officials are saying about the ban.