CINCINNATI -- City leaders have begun visiting the possibility of a smoking ban in bars and restaurants.

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Bar, Restaurant Patrons Offer Mixed Views

A sign of the times is clearly visible at a new jazz club in Newport that doesn't have any ash trays, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Susanne Horgan reported.

The Hitching Post, in Oakley, is a smoke-free establishment. Signs painted on the front window make the message clear.

"It hasn't hurt us," owner Peggy Arnold said. "We hear comments from our customers all the time how much more they like it since it became non-smoking."

Arnold made the decision to go smoke-free after a survey suggested she do so two months ago, Horgan reported. Her customers like it.

"I have breathing problems, so I appreciate that it's non-smoking," James Booher said.

Ann Rubenstein said she'll play by an owner's rules, but not necessarily council's.

"I resent someone higher in government telling me what to do," she said.

The opposition is even more pronounced at popular Over-the-Rhine coffeehouse Kaldi's, Horgan reported. The seating is divided into smoking and non-smoking sections, though some said smoking is part of the experience at Kaldi's.

"I would say two-thirds of our customers are on the smoking side," manager Cheryl Brinker said. "People always prefer the smoking side."

Added regular customer Lou Doensch: "Now and then, I'll come here to sit, drink coffee, smoke a cigarette. It's very enjoyable."

Doensch has been bellying up to the bar at Kaldi's for his morning caffeine and nicotine fix for nearly 10 years, Horgan reported.

"(Non-smoking) would be an inconvenience, but it would not be that big of an inconvenience," he said.

Claude Spires said he thinks a possible smoking ban is a lot of hot air.

"I think it should be up to the proprietor of the business to establish a smoking policy," he said.