CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Bar owners are fed up with Kanawha County's month-old expanded smoking ban.

Today, they plan to take their complaints to the front door of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. They want people to know the ban has devastated their businesses.

"I'm willing to do anything to get rid of this smoking ban," said Larue Causey, owner of Smiley's Lounge and Bryan's Place in St. Albans. "It's hurt my business, cut my bar sales 25 percent. I personally think it's unconstitutional."

Bar and gambling parlor owners are expected to meet at the Fifth Quarter Restaurant across from the Charleston Civic Center at 1 p.m. and walk to the Health Department on Lee Street about an hour later, according to protest organizers.

"We will be smoking," said Jean Angle, owner of the Pour House bar in North Charleston.

Health board President Brenda Isaac said she respects the business owners' right to protest the smoking ban, but she said their criticism wouldn't sway her to revoke the new regulations.

"As long as they're peaceful, they have a right to do whatever they feel they have to do," Isaac said. "It's a free country."

Isaac said the regulations were never designed to punish bar owners.

"Our decision was based on scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is dangerous," she said. "We can't continue to expose people to secondhand smoke. It's our duty to protect the health of the citizens of Kanawha County."

During a health board meeting last month, bar owners said their business dropped at least 30 percent since the smoking ban took effect July 1. Video lottery sales took an even bigger hit, they said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Bar owners are fed up with Kanawha County's month-old expanded smoking ban.

Today, they plan to take their complaints to the front door of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. They want people to know the ban has devastated their businesses.

"I'm willing to do anything to get rid of this smoking ban," said Larue Causey, owner of Smiley's Lounge and Bryan's Place in St. Albans. "It's hurt my business, cut my bar sales 25 percent. I personally think it's unconstitutional."

Bar and gambling parlor owners are expected to meet at the Fifth Quarter Restaurant across from the Charleston Civic Center at 1 p.m. and walk to the Health Department on Lee Street about an hour later, according to protest organizers.

"We will be smoking," said Jean Angle, owner of the Pour House bar in North Charleston.

Health board President Brenda Isaac said she respects the business owners' right to protest the smoking ban, but she said their criticism wouldn't sway her to revoke the new regulations.

"As long as they're peaceful, they have a right to do whatever they feel they have to do," Isaac said. "It's a free country."

Isaac said the regulations were never designed to punish bar owners.

"Our decision was based on scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is dangerous," she said. "We can't continue to expose people to secondhand smoke. It's our duty to protect the health of the citizens of Kanawha County."

During a health board meeting last month, bar owners said their business dropped at least 30 percent since the smoking ban took effect July 1. Video lottery sales took an even bigger hit, they said.

Bar owners also have threatened to file a class-action lawsuit to force the health board to rescind the anti-smoking regulations.

"That will happen," Causey said. "It's only a matter of time."

Isaac predicts bar sales will rebound over time.

"It's only been one month," Isaac said. "I'm sorry they feel we're hurting their business. But you can't make a definitive statement in a month."

Brent Mallory, owner of Crumbpecker's Bar in St. Albans, doesn't plan to take part in the protest today, but he supports any effort to revoke the smoking ban.

"I don't think the protest is going to do a thing," Mallory said. "These health board members don't care. You've got to get above them and talk to legislators."

The Health Department has received about 40 complaints about people smoking in gambling parlors and bars during the past month. Two warnings have been issued.

The department plans to give businesses at least one warning before filing a complaint in Kanawha County Magistrate Court. Bars face fines of $200 to $1,000 if they're found guilty of violating the smoking ban.

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.