Austin Bar Owners Come Up With Ways to Fight Smoking Ban

Many of Austin's bars are hurting from the smoking ban - customers for many have dropped as much as a quarter, while others may be forced to close - but several are determined to bring 'em back. News 8 reports that places like Star Bar on 6th and Freddie's on South First have taken to building up their patio spaces in the hopes of luring bar patrons with the promise of indoors comfort, outside:

At the Star Bar, owners say they've lost a quarter of their customers because of the smoking ban. So, the bar is investing in wood, nails, and plastic in hopes of bringing smokers back.

"We're going to cover it and bring some heaters out here. Probably build some other tables," Star Bar co-owner Zane Baker said.

Baker's plan is to bring the indoors to the outdoors to lure smokers to once again plunk down their dollars.

"This creates an environment that's a little more friendly to them to be outside in the elements, to have a cigarette," Baker said.

Other places have simply refused to acknowledge the smoking ordinance - a certain bar we frequent towards the end of the workweek has an unspoken, makeshift smoker's den in the upstairs area of their backroom. Such "if you don't tell, we won't tell" arrangements seem to benefit all parties involved for the time being - except, of course, those whom the ban was intended to aid.