Kansas State Fair will have designated smoking areas

HUTCHINSON – Smokers who attend the Kansas State Fair will be required to use designated smoking areas, beginning in 2016.

The state fair board narrowly approved the change after a lengthy debate Tuesday. The policy will not be in effect this year to give state fair staff time to suggest the designated areas and determine how the policy will be implemented. Currently, smoking is banned only inside fair buildings and the grandstand seating area.

Fair Manager Denny Stoecklein said other details, such as whether to allow smoking at outdoor eating establishments, will also have to be decided.

The Hutchinson News reports Kansas will join more than 15 other state fairs in the country that restrict smoking on the fairgrounds.

This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Kansas State Fair will have designated smoking areas."