MADISON, Wis. -- City council members said they voted for a smoking ban ordinance out of good faith to protect public health. But now, as many as eight of them are ready to repeal or modify it because they say it's already caused hardship for businesses, News 3 reported.

Since the smoking ban took effect July 1, bar owners like Mark Deadman of Busse's said he hasn't seen some of his regular customers.

"It's knocked us down big-time," Deadman said. "We normally barely break even or perhaps lose a little in July. This year, I'm losing about a third."

Since July 1, Wiggie's bar also reported lost revenue -- about a 40 percent drop. But it's not just the periphery bars taking a hit. Downtown bars, such as Bullfeathers and The Klinic said they've lost 35 percent. Willy Street Pub also reported that business down 40 percent.

"If they're having trouble now, and it's the best time of the year, they're really going to have trouble when people can't go outside comfortably," said former alderwoman Dorothy Borchardt.

Borchardt said she isn't a smoker, but says putting pressure like this on businesses just isn't right. She's compiling data on the losses of area bars and sending it on to council members.

"If we don't address this concern, we are going to have businesses closing come wintertime," Borchardt said.

Alderman Austin King said it's too early to call the ban a success or a failure. He'd like to wait and see what happens over the course of a year.

"Without a smoking ban, four or five bars will go out of business anyway," said King District 8. "There's a natural turnover. Some bars fail, some succeed."

Even with eight council members in favor of a repeal, King said support is not likely to grow any larger.

"If someone were to convince me secondhand smoke doesn't cause cancer, I might change my mind," King said.

Deadwood said he can't wait to see what happens. "We need relief," he said. "We need relief soon."

An attempt to repeal the smoking ban failed in a 12-5 vote two weeks ago. A couple of those who voted to keep it have changed their minds, News 3 reported.

One of them, Santiago Rosas, said he changed his mind because he stopped by a north side business and saw the effects himself. Rosas challenges other council members and the mayor to go out and see for themselves.