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  • Great Falls bars experience smoke-free Super Bowl

It's been four months since the smoke cleared in Montana's bars and casinos, and Great Falls smokers and non-smokers alike noticed a difference at this year's Super Bowl events.

Teryl Wright, watching the game at the Max Casino, was relieved to watch the Superbowl without a cloud of smoke around her.

Wright said that during previous Super Bowls, "We had to sit in here and it was unpleasant - there's a lot of smoking during the Super Bowl."

This time around, she noted, "I love it. I'm so happy. It was the best thing ever. It's fresh in here, it smells good."

Outside the Max Casino, smoker Derek Ferdinand isn't thrilled that he has to smoke in the cold, but he thinks the decision should be left to the bar.

He explained, "I think it's fair to people that don't smoke, but I think it the bar should have the right to say that it is a smoking bar."

The Prospector on Smelter Ave lost some of their smoking customers, but manager Brittany Barnes said that the ban has actually brought in new business.

Barnes noted, "We got a lot of new people that actually didn't enjoy smoking in the bar, so we saw a lot of new faces. Lucky for us, the original design on the building included a deck, so people like to go outside and it makes it easier, so we didn't lose too many people which is nice."

Barnes says the fresh air also allows families to enjoy the game together, adding, "I love seeing kids come in here in their football uniforms and be all excited about the game and it gives them a chance to bring their whole family with them."

One thing Teryl said she was disappointed about was the 20-foot rule that was repealed by the City Commission back in December.