Smoking snuffed out at bars, casinos

Publication Date: 2009-10-01

• Author:K.J. HASCALL
• Publication:Daily Inter Lake

On Thursday, many Montana bars and casinos will be different places.

That's when the final phase of the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act begins, making it illegal to smoke inside bars. Other public places already have been covered by the smoking ban, but it was delayed for bars and casinos...

"In Helena, it was a bummer for a while, but they got over it," she said. "In Missoula, they got over it."

Not all local proprietors, however, are concerned about the ban.

At The Palace bar in Whitefish, owner Robert Marcuvitz thinks the ban will bring in more customers than before who previously avoided the establishment. He thinks bar patrons will be better able to admire the decor, without all the smoke.

"My customers are looking forward to [the smoking ban]," Marcuvitz said. "I am and my employees are. There's a few people that will have to change their habits, but it will be good for everybody. Some people are timing it with trying to quit [smoking]. We're trying to help with that."