News 12 at 11o'clock, July 31, 2008

AUGUSTA - Ga. --- In less than an hour, North Augusta businesses will be "smoke free."
The "no smoking ban" goes into effect at midnight.
Thursday night some of those businesses prepared for the change.

The businesses affected the most are restaurants and bars. Frank Kennedy at the S&S Cafeteria has accepted the new ban --and taking it in stride. However David Drakeley, owner of the Highlander British Pub says he's still against it wholeheartedly. He's convinced he will lose customers.

"I would say quite a number of them,yes,"says Drakeley."My only problem,a hundred yards away in Richmond County and Augusta, there are numerous bars where people can smoke."

Frank Kennedy has a more optimistic approach to the smoking ban.

"Personally, I smoke. It'll hurt a little bit but we move on,"says Kennedy. "They'll just have to wait 'til they walk out the door to smoke a cigarette."

"I don't like smoke with my food," say Betty Moore, a long time S&S Cafeteria customer."Its annoying to go out the door and see'em standing outside smoking. Its annoying that you have to walk into that smoke and I just don't like it."

Its not just the Betty Moore that hates the smoke. Antoinette Clark enjoys being out in a smoke free environment with her son.

"I don't like smoke when I'm eating. So, I think the new ban is wonderful."

Frank Kennedy sums it all up.

"We don't believe business will change. Some people will like it some people will not, " says Kennedy.