CHARLESTON, W.Va. - State Alcohol Beverage Control Administration Commissioner Dallas Staples put Kanawha County bars and gambling parlors on notice Wednesday: They could lose their liquor licenses, if convicted of violating the county's expanded smoking ban.

Staples sent out letters to more than 180 bars and gambling parlors across the county.

The commissioner warned that the ABCA would take "immediate action" against private clubs and taverns that have their health permits suspended or fail to contest citations for smoking infractions. 

Staples threatened to revoke, suspend or put a bar's license on probation if the bar is convicted of violating the smoking ban, which took effect July 1. Bars also could face fines from the ABCA. 

"It has to go through due process," said ABCA spokesman Gig Robinson. "We're not going to take away someone's license simply because the Health Department wrote a citation."

Staples, a former Charleston police chief, was responding to a request from Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, who urged the ABCA earlier this week to help the Health Department enforce the smoking ban.

"This absolutely makes enforcement a reality," Carper said Wednesday. "The bar owners have thumbed their noses at local government long enough. It's about time this sideshow ends."

In his letter, Staples said he expects the Health Department to forward to his office the names of any bars cited, suspended and convicted of smoking ban violations.

Staples pledged that ABCA agents would notify the health agency if they find bar customers and employees smoking during inspections.

Last week, the Health Department filed misdemeanor charges against five bars and gambling parlors that allegedly violated the smoking regulations, the first enforcement actions the agency has taken.

Some bar owners have said they would continue to defy the smoking rules and encourage their customers to light up unless violating the ban jeopardized their liquor licenses.

Even so, Kerry "Paco" Ellison, who owns the Blackhawk Saloon in Charleston, said Staples' letter wouldn't persuade him to prohibit smoking in his bar.

"I think they're bluffing," Ellison said Wednesday. "We're going to continue to smoke here until they prove to me I can't. I'm going to stay right where I'm at until they take action."

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

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - State Alcohol Beverage Control Administration Commissioner Dallas Staples put Kanawha County bars and gambling parlors on notice Wednesday: They could lose their liquor licenses, if convicted of violating the county's expanded smoking ban.

Staples sent out letters to more than 180 bars and gambling parlors across the county.

The commissioner warned that the ABCA would take "immediate action" against private clubs and taverns that have their health permits suspended or fail to contest citations for smoking infractions. 

Staples threatened to revoke, suspend or put a bar's license on probation if the bar is convicted of violating the smoking ban, which took effect July 1. Bars also could face fines from the ABCA. 

"It has to go through due process," said ABCA spokesman Gig Robinson. "We're not going to take away someone's license simply because the Health Department wrote a citation."

Staples, a former Charleston police chief, was responding to a request from Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, who urged the ABCA earlier this week to help the Health Department enforce the smoking ban.

"This absolutely makes enforcement a reality," Carper said Wednesday. "The bar owners have thumbed their noses at local government long enough. It's about time this sideshow ends."

In his letter, Staples said he expects the Health Department to forward to his office the names of any bars cited, suspended and convicted of smoking ban violations.

Staples pledged that ABCA agents would notify the health agency if they find bar customers and employees smoking during inspections.

Last week, the Health Department filed misdemeanor charges against five bars and gambling parlors that allegedly violated the smoking regulations, the first enforcement actions the agency has taken.

Some bar owners have said they would continue to defy the smoking rules and encourage their customers to light up unless violating the ban jeopardized their liquor licenses.

Even so, Kerry "Paco" Ellison, who owns the Blackhawk Saloon in Charleston, said Staples' letter wouldn't persuade him to prohibit smoking in his bar.

"I think they're bluffing," Ellison said Wednesday. "We're going to continue to smoke here until they prove to me I can't. I'm going to stay right where I'm at until they take action."

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