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Great Falls Community Speaks Out on Eve of Smoking Ban

Great Falls Community Speaks Out on Eve of Smoking Ban

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Sep 30, 2009 at 4:17 PM MST

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2009 at 4:36 PM MST

By the end of the night Wednesday it will be illegal to smoke inside bars and casinos in Montana, because starting Thursday the final portion of the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act will go into effect.

At the Black Eagle Country Club Wednesday they'll be giving out cigarettes and hosting a smoke in starting at 7:30.

It seems almost everyone has an opinion about the smoking ban, and those opinions aren't changing. And, while the clean indoor air act will keep public places in Montana smoke free, are smoking regulations really making a dent in smoker's habits?

Kerri Anderson, the assistant manager at Public Drug Co. in Great Falls said, "I've heard a few people say that, 'Well, I might as well quit because I won't be able to smoke at the bar or anywhere.'"

For some smokers, the Clean Indoor Air Act seems like one more pressure to stop smoking. Though local tobacco sellers say increased taxes and continuous price hikes seem to be bigger factors in driving people to kick the habit.

Anderson adds, "I've noticed an increase in the sales of the smoking cessation, but I believe most of it is due to cost."

Some are calling it an anti-smoking movement, as tobacco regulations across the country are forcing many smokers to alter their habits, whether they decide to quit, switch brands or even roll their own cigarettes. But many still wonder whether these new regulations will stop smoking in Montana.

Mona Yeagley manages Smokers Express in Great Falls. She said, "I don't think the smoking ban is going to hurt my store so much as the bars and casinos and places of that nature because people aren't going to stop buying their cigarettes. They're just not going to go where they can't smoke them! "

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Terry said on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 8:14 PM

Janet, I was one of those poeple interviewed, you don't even know me, how dare you talk like that! I happen to have a degree, did you know that, smartie??

sheila said on Saturday, Oct 3 at 8:30 AM

I thought Montana had more sense then to put people out of their businesses. Look forward to HIGHER unemployment and home foreclosures. The billion dollar nicotine replacement company behind all this bought off Montana!

BRK from Black Eagle said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 3:34 PM

well,.. you can't go buy ebola at an "ebola" store... not quite the same thing.. and all those people at the bar ARE actually smart, kind, well-respected members of our community. I know them all personally and a couple of them don't even smoke...they are simply against "socialism"

Sarah said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 11:12 AM

That is what Bars were invented for... smoking, drinking and gambling... keep the churches out of the bar!!!! and you don't like the cigarette smoke, don't go!! We should all have our own choice! The winers always get their way to just shut them up...btw... I don't smoke!

Janet said on Thursday, Oct 1 at 7:18 AM

Did you notice that all the smokers interviewed at the bar were not the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree?

Dave said on Wednesday, Sep 30 at 5:42 PM

If I had a bad case of ebola, I could be tossed out of a public place based on the risk I posed to public health. Second hand smoke has killed FAR more people than Ebola. Keep the smokers out.

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