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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The days of smoking and drinking in Utah's country clubs, fraternal lodges and private fine-dining restaurants are nearly over.
Beginning Monday, state law will prohibit smoking in those settings.
Taverns and bars that serve liquor will have until 2009 to become smoke-free.
The new law is intended to protect the health of employees and customers and follows a nationwide trend restricting where smokers can light up.
The law will affect 51 businesses on Monday, according to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The penalty for violating the smoking ban is $100 for the first offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense.
Reminders from the Utah Department of Health began arriving at clubs this week.
Some, like the Salt Lake Country Club, are already smoke-free.
"It's been at least four years that we have been that way. We didn't make our change because of the inevitable law changes, we just wanted a smoke-free environment for our members and our employees," said Amedee Moran, the club's general manager.
But at some watering holes, the ban will be a big change.
At the Elk's Club where Lynn Hachmeister is a bartender, a few folks have grumbled. But not Hachmeister, who is herself a smoker.
"I kind of think it's a good thing for me," said Hachmeister, who said not having smoke around could improve her health. "It might deter business, but you have pretty loyal patrons."
The fear of losing business was the biggest objection cited by bars and some lawmakers during the 2006 legislative session.
They contended that if people couldn't smoke at a bar, they'd just stay home. Utah already bans smoking in restaurants and most public buildings.
In states such as New York, where smoking bans have been implemented, business has increased, according to numerous studies. But hospitality workers here often counter that Utah's unique situation of being a state where the majority of the population is Mormon -- a faith that prohibits smoking and drinking -- means the customer base it has to draw from is smaller.
At 10.5 percent, Utah already has the lowest smoking rate in the country among adults, and cigarette sales continue to decline.
But Hachmeister said she's not concerned.
"The law is the law. The way I look at it, in America, if you see a stop sign, you stop for it. I understand the complaints, but California has this law and New York does. A lot of places are doing it," she said.
A section of the law that bans smoking at private elementary and secondary schools as well as at unlicensed day-care providers took effect earlier this year.
About 10 Utah cities have also established a ban on outdoor public smoking.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
