RALEIGH -- North Carolina's smoke-free restaurants and bars law goes into effect at midnight Jan. 2, banning smoking in all restaurants and bars, with a few exceptions.
"This is a historic moment for the health of people in North Carolina," said Governor Bev Perdue. "This single action will save lives and improve the health of North Carolina residents, visitors and food service workers, as they will avoid many of the health problems caused by secondhand smoke."
The new law, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Perdue in May, includes not only restaurants and bars, but venues that serve food and are inspected by local health departments, including many recreational facilities, convenience stores, hotel common areas and private/for-profit clubs.
Hotels and other lodging facilities may designate no more than 20 percent of their guest rooms for smoking.
Exceptions from the smoke-free law include cigar bars that meet a list of criteria and non-profit private clubs, such as patriotic clubs and some country clubs.
"The new smoke-free law will help protect workers and customers from the known health hazards of secondhand smoke, and may encourage many folks to patronize these establishments more frequently, now that restaurants and bars are smoke-free," said Durham County Health Director Gayle Harris.
In Durham, Members of Teens Against Consuming Tobacco (TACT) were scheduled to staff an educational table at the Northgate Mall today. TACT members were scheduled to offer handouts and educational games about the new law as well as information about smoking cessation programs and the dangers of tobacco consumption. TACT is part of the Tobacco Reality Unfiltered (TRU) Movement, which is North Carolina's statewide youth tobacco prevention initiative.
The no-smoking law requires affected businesses to post no-smoking signs, remove ashtrays and ask smokers to step outside to smoke. Businesses that repeatedly break the law can be fined up to $200 per day. Smokers who refuse to smoke outside can be fined up to $50 by local law enforcement for defying the law.
Enforcement is complaint-driven. Local health departments will investigate businesses based on filed complaints.
There are three ways to report a possible business violation of the law: (1) call the local health department; (2) visit www.smokefree.nc.gov and complete an on-line form; or (3) call the N.C. CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY 1-877-452-2514) 7 a.m.-11 p.m., seven days a week. CARE-LINE services are available in over 150 languages. After hours, you may leave a message and your call will be returned.
