An opponent of a new effort to make all South Dakota businesses smoke-free says such a law would be a disaster for the bottom line.

Russell Spaid, who owns the Longbranch Saloon in Pierre, says removal of current exemptions for businesses that sell alcoholic drinks cut deeply into business income.

Although smoking opponents say all workers -- even those who are employed in bars and casinos -- are entitled to unpolluted air, Spaid says 95 percent of his employees smoke.

Opponents of a complete smoking ban have argued in the past that the Legislature should let each bar owner decide whether to allow smoking.

They warn that a total ban on smoking in businesses might cause some restaurant-bar combinations in small towns to lose so many customers that they would have to close shop.