(SALINA, Kan.) — Kansas lawmakers are discussing whether to lift the current smoking ban. A house committee approved a bill that would allow smoking in Kansas bars.
The bill would allow smoking in any private business whose patrons and employees are all at least 21-years-old.
Since Kansas allows smoking in state-owned casinos, committee members say this bill would make Kansas more fair.
Eyewitness News spoke with staff at "The Paramount" bar in Salina, they are backing bill to help out with business.
"Business has gone down it really has", says bartender Stacey Ramage.
They say the smoking ban has kept loyal costumers away from bars statewide, the staff says those costumers are opting to drink and smoke at home instead of going out to the nearby tavern.
"In the end the costumers would get to choose where they want to go". adds Ramage.
A committee member says it's unlikely the bill will become law this year because it was introduced so late in the session. Kansas banned smoking in most private businesses in 2010.
