Legislation Could Relax Smoking Ban, Allow it in Bars

Three years after pushing for a smoke-free state, the Illinois General Assembly is considering two bills that would relax the ban and let customers light up in some bars.

House Bill 171 would allow smoking in segregated, ventilated rooms in licensed casinos. House Bill 1310 would give local liquor control commissions the power to issue smoking licenses to bars and other adult-oriented establishments that make no more than 10 percent of their revenues from food sales.

In New Lenox, that would include places that are primarily bars, such as the Pit Stop and White Horse Inn. Mayor Tim Baldermann, who serves as the village's liquor commissioner, added that it could also includes the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

"These are people who fought for our freedoms and they can't even smoke inside," Baldermann said.

But the mayor acknowledged that in some cases, the ban can be good for employees and families with children. But if bars could allow smokers, he said some places that are primarily restaurants might be upset.

"It's not a real level playing field," he said. "But if it's a 21 and up establishment, that's one thing. Even if it was, you still would have some employees subjected to second-hand smoke."

Lisa Roberts, the head bartender at the Pit Stop, said she's definitely seen business sag because of the smoking ban.

"We definitely lost a lot of our business, and the ones who are here aren't happy about it," she said, estimating that as many as 90 percent of Pit Stop customers smoke.

Jim Potter, the owner of the White Horse Inn, said he hasn't seen much of an effect on business that he could directly attribute to the smoking ban.

"It's hard to tell because the ban came into effect when the economy was down, too," he said. "But I think it really didn't affect our business. It's been an inconvenience more than anything else."

Regardless of the impact the ban has had on business, Potter and Roberts both said they'd like to allow smoking indoors again.

"I think we have a right to decide whether we work in a smoking business," Roberts said. "It should be a choice of the employees and the customers."

The second bill, which would allow smoking in these bars, stipulates that all employees must be notified that the establishment would allow smoking. The business would also have to be in compliance with the terms of its liquor license.

The White Horse serves food, but only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Potter estimated that about 10 percent of revenue comes from food. He said he would even be happy if smoking was allowed only after the kitchen closed.

Just before the ban when into effect, the White Horse installed two new smoke heaters and added another fan near the bar to further ventilate the area. After the ban went into effect, the bar added a heated tent behind the building specifically for smokers.

"It would be good if people could smoke in here again," Potter said. "Most of the (employees) smoke anyway, and a lot of our customers do, too. I wish they could smoke in here."