Smoking Ban

Cleaner air means healthy benefits. That's what one study says of Kansas bars after the State-wide smoking ban went into effect. Despite the study results, some bars continue to disagree with the ban. Bars are full of football fans Sunday night watching the big games that determine who will play in the Super Bowl. "Earlier I was rooting for the Packers and now I am rooting for Pittsburg," said one Patron at Larry Bud's sports bar. The rivalries haven't changed but something has changed in the bars.

By Dave Roberts (ANDOVER, Kan.) Some Kansas business owners joined an organization called Kansas Business Right to Choose, and they're asking lawmakers to amend the state-wide smoking ban. They're saying the ban, as written, goes to far and doesn't give them the option to become a private club to continue to cater to smokers. They fear that once the ban goes into effect on July 1, they'll be forced to close. "I think it'll hurt everybody," said Michelle Cocking, the co-owner of Harry's Uptown Bar and Grill.

District Judge Eric Yost delays a hearing on Wichita's smoking ban. Wichita lawyer Harry Najim challenged Kansas' new indoor smoking ban on behalf of three city businesses. He says Wichita's ban is more restrictive than the state's and therefore supersedes it. The hearing will now take place August 19 instead of July 15. This means smokers in Wichita can light up indoors, as long as they follow the Wichita ordinance. Eyewitness News has learned the state requested the delay.

(WICHITA, Kan.) For forty years smoking hasn't been an issue at Walt's Sports Bar and Grill.  "If you're a smoker you can feel free to come in here and not have the hassle of someone telling you to put it out or whatever, and also, if you don't like the fact that we smoke you have the right not to come in here," explains owner, Larry Doss. And that's the way he wants to keep it. Raising the age limit at his business kept the Wichita smoking ban from snuffing him out. But the Kansas legislature could change all that if it passes a governor backed state smoking ban, prohibiting smoking in any public place.

It's been three weeks since a statewide smoking ban went into effect in Wichita. Now, at least one local bar owner says its effecting her bottom line. It's not because people aren't coming in, it's because people are spending less. Pat Bazil, owner of Pat's Corner Pocket, says people are still buying plenty beer. The problem though is that once they do, they go outside to the patio to smoke a cigarette. "People are going out to the patio," she said. "Instead of being able to play the bowling machine and smoke at the same time.

Thursday, David Chaffin was planning to change his signs. Now, he's not sure what he's planning. "They pass the law, I do the best to comply based on the business I'm in," says David Chaffin. When the state passed a law to ban smoking, Chaffin decided to turn his 'Smoking Room', which was originally built to meet city codes, into a party room. "We have booked this room for several parties and it is a popular room when it comes to birthday, anniversaries and get togethers," says Chaffin.

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.

A judge decides the statewide smoking ban will take effect in the city of Wichita immediately. The ruling came down Tuesday morning and snuffs out the protests of some local restaurant and bar owners. Judge Jeff Goering ruled against the businesses saying the statewide ban is legal. 15 Wichita businesses joined in the lawsuit against the state.  Business owners argued they should be allowed to follow the Wichita smoking ordinance instead of the state's.

The smoking ban in Wichita went into effect so quickly, businesses are still working to comply. Many spent Wednesday getting rid of all evidence smoking ever existed. It's all because a judge ruled against the group fighting to over turn the statewide ban. His decision Tuesday immediately lifted the injunction on the statewide ban. Wednesday morning, Kay Woods at Shooters bar loaded up boxes of ashtrays.  She and another co-worker lugged the dozens of glass ashtrays into storage.

One month into the Kansas smoking ban and a Wellington bar is preparing to close.  Julie Crow says her business dropped about 40% between June and July when the ban went into effect.  She's put her wait staff on notice, business may not last much longer. People spend more time standing outside Julie's Pass Time bar than they do buying beers inside.  80% of Crow's customers smoke, including herself.  And since the ban started, she's struggled to fill the stools in her bar.  "It's one thing if I run my business into the ground.

Nearly three years later, business owners are surprised by customers' reactions to the smoking ban. A study out Friday shows the ban made no difference in food sales at restaurants in Kansas. The Kansas Health Institute compared sales from the years since the ban, to sales before, and found no negative influence. In the eight years before, food and liquor sales increased steadily each year and that trend stayed the same after. When the owner of the Town and Country diner in Wichita put a no smoking sign on the door, he thought it would kill business.

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.

Shooters has been Keith Walker's spot for years. But a smoking ban broke the way he used to do things. "I went and bought an electronic cigarette, it doesn't take the place of a cigarette. I'd much rather be able to smoke inside. " He never gave up coming in for pool league, but knows a lot of people who did. Managers say sales dropped about 50% after the ban went into effect. "We have league pool everyday of the week here and it's a lot harder to get people to play league pool because they can't smoke in here," said Cindy Watts, Shooters Manager.

Cleaner air means healthy benefits. That's what one study says of Kansas bars after the State-wide smoking ban went into effect. Despite the study results, some bars continue to disagree with the ban. Bars are full of football fans Sunday night watching the big games that determine who will play in the Super Bowl. "Earlier I was rooting for the Packers and now I am rooting for Pittsburg," said one Patron at Larry Bud's sports bar. The rivalries haven't changed but something has changed in the bars.

It's been three weeks since a statewide smoking ban went into effect in Wichita. Now, at least one local bar owner says its effecting her bottom line. It's not because people aren't coming in, it's because people are spending less. Pat Bazil, owner of Pat's Corner Pocket, says people are still buying plenty beer. The problem though is that once they do, they go outside to the patio to smoke a cigarette. "People are going out to the patio," she said. "Instead of being able to play the bowling machine and smoke at the same time.

The smoking ban in Wichita went into effect so quickly, businesses are still working to comply. Many spent Wednesday getting rid of all evidence smoking ever existed. It's all because a judge ruled against the group fighting to over turn the statewide ban. His decision Tuesday immediately lifted the injunction on the statewide ban. Wednesday morning, Kay Woods at Shooters bar loaded up boxes of ashtrays.  She and another co-worker lugged the dozens of glass ashtrays into storage.

A judge decides the statewide smoking ban will take effect in the city of Wichita immediately. The ruling came down Tuesday morning and snuffs out the protests of some local restaurant and bar owners. Judge Jeff Goering ruled against the businesses saying the statewide ban is legal. 15 Wichita businesses joined in the lawsuit against the state.  Business owners argued they should be allowed to follow the Wichita smoking ordinance instead of the state's.

For a couple more weeks, Wichita smokers have a few more friendly places to light up.      Right now, a district judge is weighing two smoking bans: Wichita's and the State's. Whichever is tougher wins, and becomes the smoking rules for Wichita.      "Since the inception of this nation," testified Father H Setter in distirct court Thursday, "bars have been the place to smoke and drink. "      And it's Wichita bars - 15 of them now - that want to continue to be a place to smoke and drink, under Wichita's rules.

One month into the Kansas smoking ban and a Wellington bar is preparing to close.  Julie Crow says her business dropped about 40% between June and July when the ban went into effect.  She's put her wait staff on notice, business may not last much longer. People spend more time standing outside Julie's Pass Time bar than they do buying beers inside.  80% of Crow's customers smoke, including herself.  And since the ban started, she's struggled to fill the stools in her bar.  "It's one thing if I run my business into the ground.