Wichita City Council Passes Smoking Ban

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Posted: 6:36 AM May 6, 2008
Last Updated: 7:57 PM May 6, 2008
Reporter: Jennifer Bocchieri
Email Address: jennifer.bocchieri@kake.com

23 comments

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The Wichita City Council voted on a new city-wide smoking ban Tuesday. The measure passed 4-3.

The original smoking ban only included food and beverage establishments, but now would require any business that has customers under the age of 18 to be smoke free. The only exception would be outdoor patio areas and enclosed rooms with separate ventilation systems.

In business that only allow customers 18 and over, people will be allowed to smoke as long as the owner maintains the $250 annual license fee.

"We've been working on this for about nine months we've been gathering
information and getting feedback form the community from both sides of this," Longwell said.

The ban is set to go into effect around the beginning of September.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: DJ Location: Wichita on May 9, 2008 at 12:56 AM
WooooHoooo!!!!! It'a about TIME!!!! I can finally go out to eat and not have my food and clothes soaked in NASTY smelling tobacco smoke! Hallelujah! My kids won't even eat in a restraunt that stinks like cigarettes! They are SO happy!!! THANK YOU City Council!!!!!

Posted by: thankful Location: wichita on May 7, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Thank you city council for this ban. My lungs appreciate it!

Posted by: Dennis Location: Wichita on May 7, 2008 at 06:09 AM
All you freedom fighters out there need to go back and study what freedom means. It isn't a license to do what you want regardless of how it effects other people. Government (Big Brother) does stay out of the way is most cases but then there are times it has to act on behalf of and for the good of its people. That is what is being done with this smoking ordinance. Business only cares about making money, not the heath and welfare of its customers. You have every right to smoke if you chose, just not where people also chose not to breath in your smoke, they have a right to that also. So, eat your food, get your butt up and go outside and smoke all you want. That will make room for others to get a seat a lot quicker also.

Posted by: Dennis Location: Wichita on May 7, 2008 at 06:04 AM
It's obvious that all the City Council was really concerned with was how can we make some money off this ordinance. A total ban in Restaurants that serve minors and families with kids is what was needed but that is not what we got. Leave the bars and nightclubs alone, vice is expected in these establishments, kids and minors are not. What I want to know is the reason for the $250 license fee, it makes no sense at all other than the City just wanting more revenue. Drop the fee and do the ordinance right.

Posted by: oldgoat Location: wichita on May 7, 2008 at 03:46 AM
Even though I am a non smoker I don't really agree with this. Private business should be able to decide on whether they want to be smoking or non smoking. On the up side now there will be some places that I haven't eaten at in quite a while that I will now be able to go to.

Posted by: Me Location: Wichita on May 7, 2008 at 01:43 AM
So much for a "democracy". You know, I want to know where all of these "city leaders" were when the owner of the little corner store down the street got it's start? I bet there weren't there with hands full of money saying "let us help you". Hitler would be so very proud of the "New America" and all it's dictatorship. Everyone needs to mind their own business and worry about their own backyards. Stay out of MINE!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 6, 2008 at 11:49 PM
The city is all worried about people smoking, 2nd hand smoke, but yet they allow events to still go on inside century 2 thats loaded with asbestos and has been for years!

Posted by: Sue Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Wonderful It is crazy to walk in to a place with oxygen on and they smoking or none smoking, why don't you ban them for smoking around entrance.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Meagan, people who have never smoked get lung cancer. I also don't smoke but I don't think that BIG BROTHER should be telling businesses what to do. I try as much as possible to go where there is no smoking but sometimes I don't have a choice if out with others. The one thing that does bother me about smokers is that they have no consideration for others. I have been where a smoker will light up and then hold the cigarette where it blows in my face. If they chose to smoke that is fine but PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS! Don't hold that cigarette behind you where the smoke goes in someones face, you chose to smoke so let it go in your face not someone elses. That is my big pet peeve about smokers.

Posted by: Jim Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 04:50 PM
It does matter. If you never complain and just deal with it, and never voice your opinion. Soon you won't have a voice. You are right that it is only $20.84/mo. for the license, but have you priced a seperate ventilation system. They are not cheap. Cigarettes are expensive, but they are legal and it's a persons choice to buy and smoke them. It is also a persons right to make a living for themselves, and if they choose to open a business that caters to smokers they shouldn't be required to have seperate ventilation for those patrons.

Posted by: Meagan Location: Manhattan on May 6, 2008 at 04:30 PM
I feel better knowing my dinner/supper won't be ruined by second-hand smoke. This will also decrease my chances of getting lung cancer. I don't smoke, so why should I have to deal with others that do. It's my health, not theirs.

Posted by: Breath Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 04:21 PM
I can smell a little more clean air now. I do not smoke and it is wonderful to step into a resturant and have it smoke free think about kids and babies. If you need to smoke take it outside where it belongs in the first place.

Posted by: Mike Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 04:15 PM
There should be a total ban on smoking. The city council does not seem to get it. The restaurants and bars that want smoking should provide insurance for all there employees. I bet there is not 1 bar restaraunt that provides that option.

Posted by: Vickie Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 04:10 PM
What's next? Will we have to stop eating and breathing or pay a tax to continue? More and more of our rights as US citizens are being taken away. KC MO tried this and had the ban recinded before it was actually a law as it had to be on the voting ballot. Is that the same in Kansas and if so will we be notified when it's on the ballot? KC KS citizens weren't notified and it became a law.

Posted by: it don't matter on May 6, 2008 at 04:08 PM
I never seem to voice my opinion but I am so tired of hearing the same old song from the people who complain about everything. There are so many negative people that live in Wichita. I know I will always be considered an outsider because I don't complain I just deal with it. Everyone complains about the government and I love to just sit back and laugh because minorities have been complaining about the government for years and it feels good to see that the government is messing with everyone in all now. Cry me a river for 250.00 a year thats 20.84 a month and how much does cigarettes cost. I think the government should use the money they get from the businesses on healthcare (i.e smoking cessation, education on lung disease, etc) Welcome to america where nothing will ever belong to you without the governments approval.

Posted by: anonymous Location: wichita on May 6, 2008 at 03:55 PM
i thought we lived in america. seems as though our rights are being taken away

Posted by: Chris Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Im a non-smoker. I know its up to me to go somewhere that allows smoking. It should be up to the establishment to decide, it's my choice to go inside where they allow smoking and if I want my kids to go in there. If the smoke bothers you that much, dont go in.

Posted by: Jim Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 03:44 PM
I don't smoke, never have, never will. But I don't think that a business owner should be told what he/she can or can't do with their business. We must remember that it is their business, their livelyhood, their choice. Some business owners may not have the funds to install a new seperate ventilation system. I agree with AJ the government should stay out of the way of commerce. I think the $250 license is just a extra tax that a business has pay. The Wichita City Council may have caused some businesses to fail, and some not to start, or some to go to another town because they (tax collectors) have to get their money. The City of Wichta would more than compensate for the $250 fee if more businesses were to operate in the city by widening the tax base. More businesses, more sales, more sales tax.

Posted by: Kathy Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Here's Big Brother again. If I go out to eat, etc and can't smoke my rights arebeing taken away. It would mean that the only establishments would be bars/night clubs.Also who would be willing to pay for a linse. If that occurs then their prices would go up to cover costs. All would lose--Smokers, nonsmokers and businesses. It sounds like a compromise where all lose and the city will be the only ones gaining.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on May 6, 2008 at 10:29 AM
you notice they said under 18 year old customers, how about employees? so a bar can have smoking if they pay their 250.00 a year, and keep out under 18 year old customers, byt can still have under 18 year old kids working there?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 6, 2008 at 09:17 AM
The compromise plan seems to be fair, this will keep all happy, smokers and non-smokers.As far as the establishments that will be required to pay the 250.00 per year,I expect the prices of their food and drinks to go up so in the end WE ALL PAY.

Posted by: AJ Location: Wichita on May 6, 2008 at 09:12 AM
No to any smoking ban should be left up to businesses. Less goverment not more.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on May 6, 2008 at 09:06 AM
So second hand smoke and such are so harmfull that the city is going to get $250.00 per year for a liscense? wow I feel more healthy and protected now!