It is now illegal in Ontario to smoke on bar and restaurant patios, playgrounds and public sports fields.

New regulations took effect on New Year's Day and also ban the sale of tobacco on college and university campuses.

At Fitzy's in downtown Barrie, staff were ready to enforce the law right after midnight Wednesday.

“We will post a sign no smoking past midnight on the back patio and I'm sure we won't have any problems,” said bartender Tara Griffith.

The changes to the Smoke Free Ontario Act replace a patchwork of municipal regulations governing smoking on restaurant and bar patios.

Most municipalities in the region already have bylaws that prohibit smoking in public places like parks and arenas but as of midnight the regulations will be consistent across the province. Local health officials say the province wide ban will eliminate any confusion.

“The rules are there, there will be signage up and if you are not sure don't light up,” said Leslie Gordon with the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.

According to the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit, the regulations are helping reduce the number of people who smoke. Ten years ago 1 in 3 adults smoked in Simcoe-Muskoka, that number has dropped to 1 in 5.

The measures were first announced in November, but some critics argue the new rules go too far.

“A lot of people smoke and it's getting to the point people won't be allowed to smoke anywhere, not even on city streets the way it's going,” said Barrie resident Todd MacLean.

Statistics show tobacco claims 13-thousand lives in Ontario each year.

-With files from The Canadian Press