A new state-wide initiative to ban smoking in restaurants and bars has local DeKalb businesses concerned.

“[In] any nightclub or bar, the majority of people smoke,” said Morgan Kiederlen, manager at Molly’s Eatery and Drinkery, located at 1022 W. Lincoln Highway.

A proposed Illinois State House of Representatives bill will ban, in some form, smoking in restaurants and bars. Currently, bars are required to designate areas for smoking.

According to the Illinois Restaurant Association Web site, a 1991 clean indoor air act required restaurants with more than 25 seats to have a section for smokers.

Joe Bast, president of The Heartland Institute, said a smoking ban will cause a 40 percent reduction in revenue for businesses.

The Heartland Institute is a not-for-profit organization that claims, on its Web site, to empower people and encourage social movement. Bast has written on smoking issues for 10 years.

“The economic impact on restaurants is enormous,” Bast said.

DeKalb City Clerk Donna Johnson said any restaurant or bar that wants to sell cigarettes has to have a license issued by the city. The license grants the right to sell tobacco products.

According to the IRA Web site, in states where smoking is banned, such as California, a large loss of revenue was reported.