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North Carolinians must find new places to light up in the new year 

Come the new year, Elon students and Alamance County residents will notice there is something less smelly in the air when entering restaurants and bars throughout the state.

North Carolina's new law requires enclosed areas of restaurants and bars to be smoke-free by Jan. 2. The smoking ordinance, passed in May, bans smoking in any establishment where food or drinks are prepared for profit.

Alamance County will see many changes in the food service establishments, with 300 sit-down restaurants and 100 food stands that currently allow smoking in some or all parts of their facilities.

"A lot of restaurant owners wanted to (go smoke-free) before, and now they are more than willing to comply with the law," said Barry Bass, director of the Alamance County Health Department.

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