Pennsylvania's smoking ban is now in effect, but some midstaters were smoking up a storm until the very last second at Flinchy's near Camp Hill.

It wasn't a protest - just a final farewell for smokers like Jeff Askey of Camp Hill. "One last hurrah. It's like New Years, you know," he said.

Even non-smokers showed up - perhaps a day early.

"I actually like it because you come to a bar in the evening and then not have to wash your clothes every night," said Jim Hoffman of Mechanicsburg.

While alcohol-only establishments are exempt from the smoking ban, Flinchys is not because food accounts for more than 20 percent of its annual sales.

Employees are ready to enforce the new policy. Violators and establishment owners could face fines up to $1,000.

"I'm going to ask them to put it out. If they don't, I'm going to ask them to leave. If they don't leave, I'm going to call the police," said co-owner Matt Flinchbaugh.

Management isn't worried about losing business once the smoking ban sets in. "I don't see them going to a different bar just to smoke or a private club," Flinchbaugh said.

When the smoke clears, Flinchbaugh said improvements are on the way.

"I've always wanted to re-do the ceiling and I figured I'd wait until this day came because I didn't feel like spending a whole bunch of money to fix where the smoke goes," he said.

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