DeKALB | An Illinois House Committee passed two bills on March 9 that would grant exemptions to the smoking ban for bars and casinos.

In Illinois, a smoking ban has been in place since 2008 that prohibits smoking in public establishments such as bars, casinos and restaurants.

The new law would require establishments to obtain a smoking license in order to be exempt from the smoking ban. Licenses would only be available to bars where less than 10 percent of their revenue comes from food sales and would require casinos to provide separate smoking rooms with adequate ventilation in order to qualify for a license, according to ilga.gov.

Some local business owners were against the smoking ban when it was enacted.

“They took away my right as a business owner to allow smoking here,” said Mike Petros, owner of Twins Tavern, 1028 S. Fourth St.

However, Petros has no plans to apply for a smoking license if the laws are passed.

“We get more families now, who enjoy the atmosphere of a smokeless place,” Petros said.

Jeff Dobie, owner of Fatty’s Pub and Grill, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, has no plans to allow smoking in the entire restaurant, but may make changes in order to accommodate smokers if the law is passed.

“I would be pursuing a designated smoking area that would be enclosed in the winter for smokers,” Dobie said.

Fatty’s currently has an outdoor patio, but cannot allow smoking because it is located within 10 feet of an entrance.

If establishments in DeKalb begin to allow smoking in bars, they could lose the business of non-smokers.

“I would probably never go to the bar again,” said Mohammad Farraj, senior applied mathematics major. “I have asthma and the smoke would ruin any enjoyment I would have.”

Some people miss the smoke and would support an exemption for bars.

“When you go to a bar, you’re not going there for health reasons,” said Danny Collins, senior communications major. “Plus, smoke adds to the charisma of a bar.”