A smoking ban in pubs, restaurants, shops and other enclosed public places takes affect on Saturday ? although there will be no prosecutions until October because of a six-month period of grace to allow people to get used to the new law.

Pub and restaurant owners are gearing up to start weaning customers off the habit, or at least to get them used to stepping outside if they want to light up.

Reed Young (pictured, below), manager at Docksiders pub on Front Street, estimates that up to 70 percent of his customers are smokers.

?We are going to introduce the ban slowly but surely,? he said.

?We will try to make certain parts of the bar non-smoking and try to phase it out. It is going to be tough. We?d like to make three-quarters of the bar non-smoking to get people used to it, putting signs up.

?People know there is a six-month grace period. If I said to them ?no smoking from April 1? they wouldn?t come in.?

Mr. Young said the pub had a porch that could be used by smokers who step outside for a cigarette, but while this may work during the quieter week days he could see problems occurring at weekends when there are ?throngs of people going in and out?.

Another Hamilton establishment frequented by smokers is Fresco?s restaurant and wine bar on Chancery Lane. While the restaurant is all but smoke free with smokers already stepping outside, according to manager Sylviane Stocker, it is a different story in the wine bar.

?Our bar upstairs is very smoky. Who does not go out for a drink without having a smoke??

She admits her bar staff welcome the prospect of being able to work in a smoke-free environment but some customers had expressed opposition to the complete ban.

?We want to make it easier for the guests but it is going to be tough. People can still smoke for six months. We will see if people go outside to smoke during that time and if it makes an improvement.?

In St. George?s Gunter Fifchbach, at the Tavern by the Sea restaurant and bar, said many of his customers at the bar were smokers.

?Everyone at the bar smokes. We have an outside area, a terrace and porch where smokers can go. But it is going to be difficult. My opinion is that people will get used to it, it might take a few weeks.?

Following the passing of the blanket smoking ban by the Government at the end of 2005 a fine of $250 in the first instance and $1,000 fine or each repeat offence will be liable to those who break the rule. The Government has stated it will not make prosecutions until October.

Establishments seeking to be exempt from the ban can apply to have their case assessed by the Health Ministry.

The wide-ranging new tobacco laws saw the advertising of tobacco at sporting events and the sale of cigarettes to under 18s banned from January 1, while cigarette vending machines are also no longer legal. Offenders face fines starting at $1,000.