You may think smoking indoors is a thing of the past, and while that is true in many Kentucky communities, only around 40 cities currently have comprehensive smoke free policies.

Northern Kentucky, one of the state's major metropolitan areas, only has a few citywide smoking bans.

But as our Emily Sisk reports, one advocacy group wants to change that.

For the health and prosperity of the region.

There are 36 unique cities across northern Kentucky's three main counties of Boone, Kenton, and Campbell.

Of those, 36 cities, only four currently have a nonsmoking ordinance where people can't smoke inside public places.

Karen Finan, president and CEO of the One in Key Alliance, says four is just not enough, and it's the goal of the Breathe Easy NKE campaign.

To see all of the cities adopt a smoking ban.

Early on, it was obvious that many people did not realize that we were not smoke.

Free, but in fact, only the northern Kentucky cities of Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow and Highland Heights have adopted comprehensive, nonsmoking policies.

Other larger cities like Covington and Florence, and the region as a whole, are not completely smoke free.

Unlike other major Kentucky cities.

Major metropolitan areas like Bowling Green, Louisville, Lexington have been smoke free for 15.

Years, according to a University of Kentucky database.

Around 40 Kentucky cities and multiple counties have smoke free laws, which cover indoor workplaces and public spaces.

Covington resident and business owner Brad Zap says Northern Kentucky should be leading this initiative, not lagging behind.

Do I love that we're behind?

Do I think it could be different?

Yeah, we are behind.

I mean, 15 years.

Smoke free advocates like fining and zap are part of the Breathe Easy NKE campaign, which has been working for nearly a decade to see the rate of smoking decrease in the region.

A recent study showed that 23% of northern Kentucky adults were smokers, compared to 17% of adults across the state and 14% across the whole country.

Our smoking rate is still unacceptable to be that high against the state, against the nation.

And the Northern Kentucky Health Department says those statistics are cause for alarm, even for nonsmokers, because of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke like increased heart rate, coughing and breathing problems.

But you can also experience long term effects as well, just as if you were somebody who was smoking cigarets.

Stephanie Vogel says the health department works with communities who enact smoke free policies to let businesses know how to prepare for the change.

After the ordinance is passed.

The health department follows up with business owners and community members to get their perspective on the change.

We hear a lot from community members and say, it's a great thing to be able to go into an establishment and know that you don't have to worry about being exposed to secondhand smoke, or you don't have to ask for the nonsmoking section.

Finance said business owners in the cities of Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow and Highland Heights reported little change in their restaurant or bar patronage.

The people that have gone smoke free, whether they own a restaurant or a bar, have reported out either no activity or lack of activity.

In a city like Highland Heights, which is home to Northern Kentucky University and around 6000 residents.

City Manager Michael Giffin said adopting a nonsmoking ordinance back in 2023 just made sense because all their businesses were already smoke free.

So it seemed like a good time for us to kind of put into writing something that would let the future, of Highland Heights, whether it's the business or the residents know, kind of where we stand and trying to make a push for healthier lifestyles.

Tynan believes if the region can adopt a comprehensive, smoke free ordinance, this could bring in new businesses and more tourism to the area, which already accounts for more than $2 billion of Kentucky's tourism revenue.

But finance said it will take a community wide approach to get more smoke free policies across the finish line.

It's going to take community will coupled with political will to get this accomplished.

It is a long term effort, that many of us are staying committed to.

For Kentucky Edition, an analysis.

Thank you.

Emily.

There is a group of business owners and residents who oppose mandated smoking bans.

The group is known as NK why choice members say the decision to allow or restrict smoking should be up to individual businesses, not the government.

A poll of Northern Kentucky registered voters showed 75% of people would support a regional smoking ban.