If you’re like me, you can’t stand to dine where smoke is in the air, and you especially don’t want your kids to breathe in smoky air. Well, come Jan. 2, you won’t have to ask to be seated away from smokers when you eat out. North Carolina’s historic smoke-free restaurants and bars law goes into effect then, rendering all restaurants and bars smoke-free indoors, with very few exceptions.

I cannot wait. I come from a family of smokers, most of whom have struggled to quit – and succeeded – and I don’t intend for my kids to be prey to the dangers of second-hand smoke.

The new law, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Beverly Perdue in May, includes not only restaurants and bars, but other venues that serve food and are inspected by local health departments, including many recreational facilities, convenience stores, hotel common areas and private/for-profit clubs. Hotels and other lodging facilities may designate no more than 20 percent of their guest rooms for smoking.

Exceptions from the smoke-free law include cigar bars that meet a list of criteria and nonprofit private clubs, such as patriotic clubs and some country clubs.

If you find yourself in a restaurant with someone smoking next to your family, here’s information you’ll want to know: The new smoke-free law requires affected businesses to post no-smoking signs, remove ashtrays and ask smokers to step outside to smoke. Businesses that repeatedly break the law can be fined up to $200 per day. Smokers who refuse to smoke outside can be fined up to $50 by local law enforcement for defying the law.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services says enforcement is complaint-driven, and local health departments will investigate businesses based on filed complaints. If you want to report a business violation of the law, you’ve got three options:

• Call the local health department
• Visit www.smokefree.nc.gov and complete an online form
• Call the N.C. CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY 1-877-452-2514) 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., seven days a week. After hours, you may leave a message and your call will be returned.

Thinking of dining out over the holidays, but looking to save? Visit CarolinaParent.com’s Family Meal Deals directory to discover where kids eat free!

Also, check out our great ideas for Ringing in the New Year with Kids in CarolinaParent.com's Triangle Holiday Guide.