Gov. Ted Kulongoski has signed a bill to ban smoking in Oregon bars as of Jan. 2009 and local bar owners are searching for creative ways to keep their cash flow coming in.

In June, the Oregon House approved a bill to ban smoking in bars, taverns and bingo halls beginning January 2009. Those venues were originally exempted when Oregon banned workplace smoking in 1981.

The new measure would leave only cigar bars and smoke shops exempt. Hotels would be allowed to keep up to 25 percent of their rooms for smokers.

Supporters said 800 Oregonians a year die as a result of secondhand smoke, and the bill would save lives and reduce health care costs.

“I guess it’d be fine. Actually, I was kind of looking forward to when it happened because it would make me quit,” said Bill Hetzler.

Opponents of the ban said outlawing smoking in bars and restaurants would reduce revenue from the state lottery and could hurt business.

“If they are going to cut smoking out of all the bars, then I’m definitely going to go to a bar that allows me to smoke in a designated area and still have my cocktail with me,” said Lizz Kuchel.

Many cigarette companies, including Camel, is talking about converting parts of big outdoor patios into open-air tobacco dens, with the companies footing the bill.

Patios are considered fair game because the new ban only prohibits smoking 10 feet from doors, windows and ventilation.