Evansville City Officials are considering a smoking ban and some bar and restaurant owners are worried. This past summer, a Vanderburgh County Smoking Ordinance took effect for bars and restaurants outside of the city limits. Now, it looks as though the city may not be immune to the same type of law.
City Council members have proposed a smoking ban in all public places within the city limits of Evansville.
The new law would include all privately-owned restaurants and bars in their entirety.
The proposal has some business owners worried about losing customers who smoke. Since June of last year, bars and restaurants outside of the city have operated under a similar smoking ban.
Those that 14 News spoke to Thursday say they have lost some customers but have gained new ones as a result.
“We have a lot of people who like to come into it, a smoke-free establishment, and don’t want to smell like smoke when they come in. So, we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback in the dining room area. We’ve lost business in the bar. I think everybody has if you’re going smoke-free. Bars are typically for smokers to come hang out during the day,” said Hornet’s Nest owner Derek Ungethiem.