In a 7-2 vote on May 12, 2026, the Knoxville City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping inside all age-restricted venues.

Rather than the initially proposed 90-day implementation period, an amendment was approved to extend implementation to January 1, 2027. 

The extension aims to give the few businesses that still allow indoor smoking time to adjust to the new policy.

Some businesses facing these adjustments include Cool Beans Bar and Grill, Urban Bar and Corner Cafe and The Half Barrel. Despite Cool Beans publicly speaking out against the ordinance through an Instagram post earlier this week, the ordinance will force them to end their long-standing smoking standard. 

“We believe 21+ bars should have the right to decide for themselves whether to allow smoking,” the post stated. “Our customers have been coming to Cool Beans for more than 26 years with the understanding that smoking is part of the environment.”

Even non-smoking bars, like The Hill Bar and Grill, have spoken out against the ordinance. In an Instagram post, the business stated, “While we do not allow smoking in our establishment, we believe every business should have the right to decide what is best for them.”

They stand firmly that the ordinance oversteps the rights of business owners. 

“We believe mandating this across all 21+ bars is an overreach,” the post continued. 

The newly amended ordinance will face a second and final vote from the council on May 26. 

According to WBIR, Councilwoman Debbie Helsley placed her vote in favor of the ban, claiming it will improve business and create more uniform smoking laws. 

“Nashville adopted this, 56 bars went smoke-free, business is better, their clientele increased. You name it, pick any employee group, almost all workplaces are smoke-free, but the 21+ venues,” Helsley said.

The primary drivers of the ordinance, public health advocacy group SmokeFree Knoxville, previously stated on their website, “Since the Nonsmoker’s Protection Act passed in 2007, a vast majority of Tennesseans enjoy the protection and guarantee of a smoke-free workplace. Unfortunately, loopholes in that original statewide law have left our hospitality workers and musicians behind, and we think it’s long past time for that to change.”

The organization has not yet made a public statement regarding the ordinance’s approval.