KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Earlier this week, Knoxville City Council approved an ordinance that will ban smoking indoors at age-restricted bars or venues.
In a 6-3 vote, City Council approved the ordinance that is set to go into effect starting New Year’s Day 2027. Businesses like cigar lounges, tobacco stores, and vape shops are exempt from the ban. Of the roughly 15 bars and venues that still allow smoking, many are saying it should be a choice.
“I think it will impact us tremendously because we have a lot of smokers that come in here and people like to come in and be comfortable. And I spent the money. I spent almost $60,000 putting a smoke system in this place,” Lucky Shot Billiards owner Kenny Harris. “I think it’s going to hurt us because those people that can come in here and enjoy it now, won’t be able to enjoy smoking in the future.”
Ban on indoor smoking at Knoxville bars to take effect in 2027
At Lucky Shot Billiards, Harris said the fact that they do allow smoking indoors was one of the things that made his establishment unique…