The proposed ban is facing criticism from state officials and business associations, which claim a ban could hurt businesses fighting to survive in a tough economy.

“Studies we have seen in other states (show that) the small bars and restaurants are going to be severely affected for the first two to three years … in Michigan, that will cost jobs for smaller businesses,” said Lance Binoniemi, executive director of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association.

Business only might be temporarily hurt, said Eric Skusa, general manager at The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave., where smoking is allowed. A three-month adjustment period might be necessary after a smoking ban became law, but hopefully business would bounce back, Skusa said.

“Of course you’re a little worried in a college town because we compete with house parties where people can smoke,” Skusa said. “It’s a little different in a college community.”

Some students who smoke said smoking should be permitted in bars and the choice to become smoke-free should be left up to the owner.

“I think it’s the government going too far,” law graduate student Steve Bayer said. “It’s a business owner’s choice to have smoking in their establishment.”

Some business owners already have moved to smoke-free environments and do not feel that a smoking ban has hurt their business.

After making only part of Harpers Restaurant and Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., smoke-free, owner Trisha O’Brien Riley said she felt customers deserved to have an environment that was totally smoke-free.

“How do you give a true nonsmoking area to customers without being non-smoking across the board?” Riley said.

A full-smoking ban, advocated by the state Senate, would stop smoking completely in all work environments, even in casinos and smoke shops.

“If people want smoking to be banned, it needs to be an across-the-board ban,” said Matt Marsden, spokesman for state Sen. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester.

The state House and Senate have disagreed on this exemption. The House has pushed for a ban with exemptions and the Senate has advocated a full smoking ban. Both bodies would need to agree for the ban to become law.

Last year, a similar smoking ban failed to receive enough votes in the House to become law, after the Senate had approved a version with no exceptions.

“Some people may believe we’re so far apart between the House and the Senate, we can’t get it done,” Rep. Lee Gonzales, D-Flint, said. “Let’s just do it methodically and reasonably and let’s try to get something that’s acceptable to most parties.”