VIRGINIA BEACH (AP) -- Gov. Tim Kaine signed into law a ban on most smoking in restaurants and bars throughout Virginia.

Health advocates, legislative patrons and others were at Croc's on 19th Street Monday afternoon to sign the legislation that was passed to protect workers and patrons from the effects of second-hand smoke.

Last month, lawmakers passed the measure that restricts smoking to separately ventilated rooms in restaurants and private clubs.

Generally, the bill requires any restaurant that allows smoking to limit it to an area separated from nonsmoking patrons by a wall and a door and a ventilation system that doesn't mix secondhand smoke with fresh air.

Video: Restaurant smoking ban signed into law

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Kaine worked for years for a total ban of smoking in all restaurants.

He says the ban will be one of the strongest in the region and the strongest amongst the top tobacco-producing states because the Commonwealth does not differentiate between bars and restaurants.

After it's signed, the ban takes effect Dec. 1.

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