Bar Reverts To Old Smoking Policy After Ban Fails

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis bar has reverted to its old smoking policy, just three weeks after it had implemented a ban in anticipation of the City-County Council passing a comprehensive ban.

Metro Nightclub managers thought they were being proactive by going smoke-free about a month before the council vote, but lighting up is again allowed a week after the council vote was tabled, 6News' Sarah Cornell reported.

"They didn't pass the law, so we decided … a lot of customers complained about smoking, a lot of customers complained about not smoking," said Metro employee Jason Montgomery. "We have more customers that smoke, so let's make it smoking again.”

Montgomery said being smoke-free didn't cost the bar business because it had gained some new, non-smoking clients.

Being able to light up again has ignited discussion among regulars.

"You can come in a bar and walk out of a bar and don't smell like cigarettes. You can drink beer and have fun," said customer Stephanie Weaver.

"I come here to enjoy myself and have fun with friends. I don't think it's fair for them to say I can't do that," said another customer.

Councilman Ben Hunter said he doesn't think it is fair for bars to be forced to choose to allow smoking or be smoke-free.

"It's never going to work if it's not level, so it has to either be level countywide," Hunter said. "All local units of government have to make that decision, or the state of Indiana has to make that decision."

Hunter said the smoking ban fight isn't over in Indianapolis and that he thinks it's only a matter of time before the city or state implements a comprehensive ordinance.

Until that happens, Metro said it will stick with its most recent decision.

"We will cross that road when it gets there, but for now, we are just going to keep smoking," Montgomery said.

The ban is likely to become a campaign issue for council candidates. Proposals to enact a statewide smoking ban have died in legislative committee three times.