As local bars look for ways to stave off the loss of business following the passage of Issue 5, which bans smoking in public places, Ex-Smokulator Inc. is finding its product in high demand.  The Ex-Smokulator device allows persons in an establishment to smoke tobacco outside of the establishment through a complicated and scientifically-designed arrangement of tubes and ball-valves.

 “We did fifteen installations this week alone,” said Jeter Dixon, an installation technician for the Durham, NC company.  “Our product is very popular with long-term smokers who are used to having a smoke down at their local watering hole.  And it’s no more inconvenient than breathing through an oxygen mask on an airplane or at the hospital.”

Asked about the legality of the device in light of Issue 5, Dwight Reynolds, CEO of Ex-Smokulator Inc. pointed out that no smoke issues into the atmosphere of the bar itself.

“Thanks to our patented smoke-routing technology,” said Reynolds, speaking by telephone from his North Carolina estate, “the smoker can enjoy all of the benefits of smoking while indoors, all safely within the law.”

Local smokers, testing the device, admitted that while it wasn't quite the same, they could see getting used to it. 

"It's costly, yes," said local bar owner Mick Elliot, "But if it'll keep me in business, I'm happy to spend the money."