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DUBUQUE - Smoke-free, a law in Iowa that bar owners have been dreading for years, and that anti-smoking groups have been hoping for. As of July 1 a state wide smoking ban in all public places, excluding casinos, will go into effect in Iowa, leading Iowa smokers outside to smoke.

“The smokers will get used to smoking out front but for the city’s bar and restaurant owners it is going to be messy because there will be people smoking in the entry ways,“ says The Dog House bar owner Bob Leytem.

Leytem explains other states that have enacted a state wide smoking ban have been affected negatively by the change.

“Other states have said their business has dropped off quite a bit, Illinois has dropped around 20 to 25 percent and Minnesota even more,” added Leytem.

For Anti-Tobacco groups in Dubuque these numbers are up for debate.

“Illinois and Minnesota have gone smoke free and we have seen no detrimental effects yet, it seems like business as usual,” says Hillcrest Anti-Tobacco Coordinator Angie Brandel.

One of the exemptions to the ban has business owners questioning the government’s decision.

“I think it is hypocritical to allow smoking in casinos, if they are going to ban smoking for one business it should be all businesses,” says owner of Players Sports Bar David Loreny.

Regardless of the mixed feelings towards the ban, this summer the smoke free bill will go into effect in Iowa, requiring bar and restaurant owners, along with their patrons to make a change.

Morgan Finke can be reached at Morgan.Finke@loras.edu