DENVER -- Some Colorado small businesses say that the decline they have been experiencing in business is because of the recent statewide smoking ban.

Opponents warned that Colorado's smoking ban would hurt many mom and pop businesses, and some owners are now saying they are on the verge of bankruptcy. The ban went into effect July 1.

"In January, February and March I would buy 14 kegs of beer a week. And now I'm down to seven," said Debra Dolph, Sports Station owner.

Dolph said her business is down dramatically since the smoking ban went into effect.

"I know they keep saying 'give people time,' but I have not seen one new face come in here that's a nonsmoker," said Dolph.

"It's awful. It's very hard on business," said bartender Ruth McDonald.

Under the ban, if employees or customers want a cigarette, they have to go outside. Dolph has set up a bench for the smokers to sit at outside. Bartender Ruth McDonald said she often finds neighborhood hookers and drug dealers sitting there.

"I come out here and my customers can't even sit down because there's all this extra," said McDonald.

"You come out here and you want to have a cigarette and you see all these people here," said customer Harold Mitchess. "You know they're not the patrons of the bar."

Dolph said she is hoping that football season will bring a change. But with the smoking ban, she's leery of spending thousands of dollars for a cable sports package.

"If we get the NFL ticket in, I really don't think anybody is going to want to stop watching their football game to go out and have a cigarette. They're going to lose the play and miss something," said Dolph. "I really don't know how long we're going to last."

The Sports Station is not the only mom and pop business struggling with the ban. James Von Feldt at Billy's Inn said he is losing money hand over fist. He said he is trying to strategize with other owners to see what they can do.