Patrons of Club 8 were treated to a breath of fresh air Tuesday night.

The bar, located at 216 Stanton Ave., became the first in Campustown to provide a smoke-free night in association with the Story County Tobacco Task Force’s “Everyone Deserves Smoke-Free Air” campaign.

Sophia Magill, 2005 ISU graduate and member of the task force, said the smoke-free Tuesday nights will be held throughout April at Club 8, and said she hopes to expand from there.

“Our future goals include providing a smoke-free weekend rather than a weeknight and to work with more bars,” Magill said.

Lloyd Flanders, manager of Club 8, said he and the bar’s owners, Terry Fisher and Katie Kriener, were excited to take part in the campaign.

“When Sophia approached us with the idea she didn’t have to sell us too hard,” Flanders said. “I think there is a market for people who want to go to the bar and be social without having to smell like smoke and deal with the health issues that come with it.”

Club 8 customer Ben Eichner said he used to smoke and knows why people go to the bar – to drink and play pool – and most of them do it while smoking.

“I think it’s a good concept, but a bad idea,” Eichner said. “I like the idea of a smoke-free environment, but it won’t work in this town.”

A concern for both the task force and business owners is the possibility of bars taking a financial hit with the loss of smoking customers.

“We are concerned with their business,” Magill said. “But second-hand smoke is a big issue for their patrons and employees.”

Flanders said he doesn’t think businesses will be affected in a negative way.

“I don’t think it will hurt business,” Flanders said. “If it turns out to be a good thing we may go to having it multiple nights.”

Magill said the “Everyone Deserves Smoke-Free Air” campaign will have a celebration April 17 during Veishea week at Club 8.

The task force is continually working with Ames to help make the community smoke-free, Magill said. Currently, about 95 percent of restaurants in Ames are non-smoking and the task force is working within the greek community, as well, to provide a smoke-free environment.