by KYW's Tony Romeo

As of Thursday, you’ll be out of luck if you want to light up in many public places because Pennsylvania’s new smoking law takes effect.

There are exemptions to the new smoking law, including bars where food is 20-percent or less of total sales.

Amy Christie, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Tavern Association, says she believes her members are up to speed on the new law, but a lot of taverns don’t belong to her group, and that might be a different story:

“Lots of calls every day from licensees who are not members who are wondering where they even go to get this information.”

But spokeswoman Holli Senior believes the state Department of Health’s outreach efforts have been adequate:

“We actually believe that businesses probably have been following this legislation.”

To get information about the smoking law, call 1-877-835-9535. Or go to www.dsf.health.state.pa.us