Before Monday, all restaurants in Brooke County had half smoking seating and half non-smoking seating. Now the non-smoking section is at 75 percent, leaving smokers to fill 25 percent of the establishment. Officials on the Brooke County Board of Health say the move was a collaboration between restaurants, bars and other businesses. "We've debated this for a year and a half, and we're the only county in West Virginia that has involved the bar owners in the discussion," says consultant for the board John Bertram. "And I think everybody came to the conclusion this is the fairest way to go." Bertram says he thinks the new regulation is the best way to go because the board isn't forcing a smoking ban on the owners. He says although bars and other establishments are exempt, they will still be given guidelines to make sure customers experience minimal exposure to the smoke. He adds the ultimate goal is to get all public establishments smoke-free in Brooke County. There is also a rule in the regulation that says an 18-year-old will not be able to sit in the smoking section in restaurants, even if they're with their parents. Bertram says this is another way to keep citizens safe from the smoke. The regulation will go into effect in 90 days.

Natalie Pasquarella, News9