Posted Wednesday --- December 19, 2007

It's a habit that some people try and kick for the new year. And now a local business is butting in.

"If people want to quit smoking, I welcome it here," says Koffee Kup owner, Ken Gulseth. "We're going completely non-smoking."

As of January 1st the Koffee Kup in Stoughton plans to be 100 percent smoke free.

"Through the years of being here it got to always be a concern. We wish you had a non-smoking section or a place that smokers can't be."

But they're not the first restaurant that's tried to solve the problem. Sugar and Spice Eatery, the Koffee Kup's direct competitors, has thought about making the same decision but still has some reservations.

"At this point we do have a fair amount of smokers that come here so I don't want to offend anybody," says Sugar and Spice owner, Carrie Knipfer.

Being one of the first restaurants in the area to go completely smoke-free. The Koffee Kup's major concern is how their decision will affect business and will their customers come back.

"Their decision to go smoke free on January 1st is for the better of the community," says one customer. "I just won't smoke at all."

Gulseth has received mixed reviews after posting the notice around the diner. But he's confident he's making the right decision. And after doing his part to help people stick to their New Year's resolution, he now has time to think about his.

"Myself? I probably should have one about eating food and losing some weight."

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