Some of those New Year's resolutions are about to get a little easier. This is the last week smoking will be allowed in Maryland bars.


The statewide smoking ban takes effect Friday. There will be limited exemptions for some bars and restaurants that prove they lose business because of the ban - but they'll have to ban it for a few months to prove business suffers first. That means there won't be a bar in the state allowed to permit smoking in February. Business that permit smoking after Friday could be fined by the state, though bar and restaurant owners could avoid fines if people light up and the owners can prove they took steps to prevent indoor smoking, such as removing ashtrays and posting no-smoking signs.

Smoking will still be allowed outside.

Charles, Montgomery and Prince George's counties already have smoking bans in place.