Bars plan ahead for smoking ban - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Smoking in Indianapolis is about to get a little tougher.

The city's expanded smoking ban kicks in Friday. The smoke-free ordinance will extend to bars, bowling alleys and hotel rooms.

Wednesday afternoon, Randy Bryant was enjoying a cigarette during lunch at the Mass Avenue Pub, the last hold-out on the Avenue. Bryant's not happy about the tougher restrictions.

"Friday, I'm concerned, but like I said, I'm going to continue smoking and I hope bars boycott this," he said.

Pub owner Tracy Robertson said she had no plans to do that, but she was getting ready for the changes. Unlike most laws, which take effect at 12:01 a.m., this one will take effect at 6 a.m. to accommodate bars with late hours.

Robertson said that helps a lot.

"We close at 3 a.m. nightly, so we're thankful they didn't try to pull the new law off at 12:01, that would have been a logistical nightmare for us trying to tell everyone to stop (at midnight)," she said.

Robertson noted they have begun painting the walls and cleaning the carpet to get rid of the smoky smell. All that's left is removing the ashtrays and the noisy smoke eaters.

While she knows several of her customers aren't happy with the new ordinance, she's hoping it brings "new faces" to the Pub.

Gretchen Hunt, who eats at the Pub once a week, said, "I'm absolutely delighted, because now I can go somewhere and not smell like someone else's smoke."

Hunt, who gave up smoking 23 years ago, thinks the new law will mean new non-smoking customers for places like the Pub.

"It opens doors to places we can go that we normally wouldn't go because smokers were allowed," she said.

The only places where smoking will be allowed are off-track betting facilities, retail tobacco stores and private clubs, if the membership votes to continue allowing smoking. Cigar and hookah bars will need a tobacco license.

Kate Johnson with the Department of Code Enforcement estimates there at least 15 such places in Indianapolis, but at last count, she said just a third of them had applied for the special license. They have until Thursday afternoon to do so.

"If they're not licensed, they're issued a uniform traffic ticket, which would give them a court date to come up here," she said.

But she added, in past incidences, if businesses get their licenses before the court date, the prosecutor "typically drops the charges."

Khoury's Mediterranean Island began offering hookah smoking in Indianapolis ten years ago. Manager Issa Khoury said while they want to "keep it going," they also wanted to weigh the pros and cons before applying for a license, which they did earlier this week.

"I don't think I'm going to get rid of it. I'm going to wait and see. It might affect me in a good way or a not good way, but we'll do it for a few months and see what happens," Khoury said.

Back at the Pub, Bryant knows he won't be lighting up inside much longer, but he said will find a place.

"The parking lot or outside if I have to, but I hope our government decides to let this go," he said.

Johnson said while the new law will be enforced, they do expect "a high rate of voluntary compliance as smoking is one of those habits easily seen, smelled and noticed."

Fines range from $100 for a first-time offense to $200 and up for multiple offenses.