A state representative from Denton is proposing banning smoking in all restaurants and bars in Texas. It would also include all workplaces, outdoor events, bus stops, and sports arenas.

Larger cities like Houston, Austin and College Station already have smoking bans, but a statewide law would apply to small towns, like Snook, Texas, with a population of under 600 people.

At The Watering Hole, a Snook bar, regulars come for a cold drink and many come for a drag.

"What are bars all about? Having a cold beer, it kinda goes hand in hand," said owner Mike Bulkkinen.

However, the beer and cigarette combination will have to be a thing of the past in Texas bars if a Texas State Representative has her way.

Myra Crownover (R) Denton, filed House Bill 5, which would make smoking illegal in any public place in Texas.

"If you take away the smoking, you're going to to take away his livelihood, take away the freedom of the people who came to smoke," said Watering Hole patron Jody Hammons.

Folks at the Watering Hole take their freedoms very seriously.

"This is America, that's why people move here, because you have a choice," said Bulkkinen.

Bulkkinen answers to Yankee, but is very much a Texan, who likes his cigars.

"You don't have to come to this place, if cigarette smoke bothers you, there's other places you can go," said Bulkkinen. "You have that right, nobody's telling you to come here."

This week, the Texas Restaurant Association voted to support a statewide restaurant smoking ban. Something no one at The Watering Hole seemed to mind.

"I'm sitting there trying to enjoy my meal and somebody first thing they do is come and blow a cigarette up and it'll ruin your meal," said bar patron Edward Macik. "Take it out of the restaurants, let the bar people be happy."

The Watering Hole promises "beer, wine and free advice." Yankee's advice to lawmakers: "God bless America and don't let it happen. Even our President would love to smoke cigarettes in public," said Bulkkinen.

If it passes, the statewide smoking ban would begin September 1, 2009.

It would overrule a town's current smoking ban, unless the town's laws were more strict.

College Station's mandate that smokers light up at least 10 ft. from back doors would be pushed back to 15 ft.

Smokers who violate the ban would be issued a $50 fine. Owners or managers in violation could be charged with a class C misdemeanor.