Lawmakers Consider New Smoking Restrictions on Bar Patios

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Lawmakers Consider New Smoking Restrictions on Bar Patios

Restrictions Considered for Bar Patios

ROCKFORD (WIFR) If youre a smoker, your outdoor experience may be changing if some lawmakers get their way.

The Illinois Department of Public Help is trying to rewrite the rules for what can be allowed on bar patios, beer gardens, decks, rooftops, or concession areas. Smokers will still be able to light up in those spots, but if the rules are changed, smokers will have to serve themselves. Servers and other employees wont be legally allowed to serve customers smoking in these areas. Some local bar owners fear the proposed changes would affect business and alienate a large portion of their customer base.

"Now you're going to have a lot of people that spent a lot of money to put in patios for smokers to go out there and smoke, as well as for other people to go out and enjoy the area, I think it'll have an impact on business. It'll hurt," said Pete Gwizdala with the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association.

The Department of Public Health says the rules are meant to follow the original intent of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, although some local politicians who voted for the act, say these new rules go too far.

The rule changes are waiting on a vote downstate in the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. Theyre a bipartisan group made up of equal amount democratic and republican state senators and representatives.

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Lawmakers Consider New Smoking Restrictions on Bar Patios