Some bars, restaurants plan to start smoking ban early

Publication Date: 2006-11-26

• Author:Peter Corbett
• Publication:Arizona Republic

Bar owners across the Valley are gearing up for the ban. Some plan to snuff out smoking as early as Jan. 1, and others will wait until the official start on May 1.

Many Valley bars plan to add or upgrade patios for smokers and still try to keep them comfortable in summer's extreme temperatures.

Kerry Phelps, owner of the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, decided five months ago to ban smoking inside his northeast Phoenix business near Bell and Scottsdale roads.

Smokers can light up at an outdoor bar or at tables on the pub's covered patio.

"It seems to have worked really well," Phelps said.

Trond Matteson, 37, of Scottsdale, said it's good that restaurants will be free of smoke.