“I think it’s definitely a good time of year to start the transition because people are more comfortable going outside in the spring than in negative-10 degrees in the winter,” said Tim Hammer, manager at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 360 Albert Ave.

Studies in other states have shown food sales increased with smoking bans, which more than covered any losses from cigarette smokers staying at home, said Joe Bell, owner of The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave.

Similarly, Michael Kruger, general manager at Crunchy’s, 254 W. Grand River Ave., said he expects a more diverse and plentiful crowd visiting his restaurant for food with the absence of smoking.

“I think if anything else it will invite more people out to Crunchy’s, especially more of the nonstudent population and hopefully the business lunches and stuff like that,” he said.

Crunchy’s and The Peanut Barrel Restaurant have outdoor seating, but smoking still is prohibited in those areas under the new law because food is served in those areas.

Kruger said he is debating how to monitor smokers as they leave the building for a drag, as they need to be differentiated from those waiting in line. He has discussed taking drivers’ licenses or stamping hands to separate the groups.

Matt Voog, an applied engineering sciences senior and nonsmoker, said the state has reached too far with the smoking ban.

“I think it’s the bar owner’s private property, it’s his business, so he has the right to have his own regulations and rules,” he said. “It might make sense for some bars to do it anyway, but I don’t like the government coming in, it will hurt some smaller bars.”

Andrew Williams, a sociology senior, said he wonders what other bars will do about the smoking situation.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how a lot of the East Lansing bars handle it, especially places like (Rick’s American Cafe, 224 Abbot Road) that have no designated smoking area,” he said. “It was a smart move by a couple of the bars in Lansing; they banned smoking a month prior so customers knew what it would be like.”

Hammer said he doesn’t expect the ban to significantly affect business, as the law’s across-the-board nature impacts every restaurant equally.

“People that will enjoy not having a smoking environment and people who are not able to smoke inside will become comfortable with it and realize nobody will let them smoke inside,” he said. “It will just have to be something they cope with.”

Candace Rouse, a student at the Douglas J Aveda Institute, 331 E. Grand River Ave., said she believes the smoking ban will help people kick the habit but won’t deter people from going out.

“I smoke so I guess (the ban is) good for other people, but I really don’t care either,” she said. “It helps me quit smoking. It never really crossed my mind but it’s something I have to do now.”