DaytonDailyNews.com

Symmes Tavern on the Green experienced about a 5 to 7 percent drop off in sales from summer to winter partly because of the smoking ban, said owner Joe Schwarz.

While the drop-off isn't significant, it was still noticeable, especially when some competitors allow smoking, in spite of the statewide smoking ban in public places and places of employment voters elected to enact in 2006 and took effect on May 3, 2007.

"If you are a smoker, and you can go to Bar A and they permit you to smoke, and (Bar) B doesn't, it's simple of what you're going to do," Schwarz said. "Once it's enforced uniformly, we'll all be better off for it."

There are about 280,000 businesses covered by the smoking ban, said Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss.

Since the ban went into effect, 29 Butler County businesses have received warning letters about allowing smoking in their business, Weiss said. Of the warning letters — which is the first penalty — 10 business owners have received $100 fines, and four of those owners have been fined $500.

"We didn't know what to expect," Weiss said of the number of complaints and fines that would be issued. "It was a first for a Midwestern state and a tobacco state."

About 30,000 smoking complaints have been filed with the Ohio Department of Health since the smoking ban went into effect. Of the allegations, there has been 2,082 warning letters mailed, Weiss said. More than $126,000 in fines have been levied, he said.

Liberty Inn general manager Sarah O'Brien said in the first six to eight weeks of the enforcement, business dropped by 50 percent.

"It killed us," O'Brien said. "Most of our patrons are blue-collar workers, construction workers and 90 percent are smokers."

But the bar's owners decided to go against the state ban and allow smoking, O'Brien said, and for the past few months the business has had its greatest success in three years.

O'Brien said the owners are disputing the $100 fine they recently received.

"It's a very friendly place, people from the surrounding neighborhoods come, and a lot of people meet after work," O'Brien said.

A 36-foot outside patio expansion was just added, and once the outdoor activities permit is approved, O'Brien said the owners may consider going back to nonsmoking.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.

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