To Smoke or Not to Smoke

[Edward Hamilton]

Minnesota: US bars find dramatic solution to smoke ban
11/03/2008

Source: MA
Up to 100 pubs and bars in the US state of Minnesota have found an ingenious way to flout the smoking ban.
The law in the state allows actors in plays to still smoke, so some bars have become theatres and made their customers the actors.
The bars have taken to printing lists of the cast, which include barmaids and customers a-like with all donning costumes as part of the role.
Some have even labelled the front door "stage entrance".
One rock bar owner said his play was called "Before the Ban" where customers play themselves before the smoking ban and so sit around drinking and smoking.
However, state officials have warned the bars are breaking the law and could be hit with a fine of up to $10,000 (Ј5,000).

[RobertBurr]

remember Hair? Why not write a script where all the actors drink rum, smoke cigars and get naked? Let's hear it for freedom of expression!

The pendulum swings...

there is at least a triple entendre there.

[RumBarPhilly]

[QUOTE=Edward Hamilton;8071 The law in the state allows actors in plays to still smoke[/QUOTE]

Well there's some B.S. That law sounds kind of... prejudice to the non-actors. Perhaps a way around it would be to have your bar accredited as an acting school and award all guests a diploma, then they;d avoid that fine as well.

[Paulipbartender]

There's a bar over here that is using a similar loophole. You come to the mic and tell a joke whilst you're smoking which qualifies as performance.

Hardly seems worth it though!

[Dood]

When California first passed the smoking ban in bars, I thought it was stupid. Then I started traveling a lot to places without the ban, and boy did I appreciate the ban then...being able to go to a bar and not have to burn my clothes afterwards was great.

[Lew Barrett]

I haven't smoked cigarettes for about ten years, and cigars are a relatively infrequent, but eagerly anticipated treat. I'm glad they canned smoking in public places by and large, but clearly it's sensible to allow smoking and non-smoking bars. That seems in the best spirit of freedom of choice and action.
The reasoning is obvious, barely worth going into, but that would be an egalitarian and fair move on the part of the authorities. I hate it when people tell me how I have to behave for my own well being, and loathe it just as much when others impose by blowing smoke in my face unasked for.
It's just so sensible to allow choice, it's no wonder local governments fail to enact just such regulations. When have most authorities ever acted with great sensitivity to all?

[Hank Koestner]

I agree that a free enterprise market should allow owners to CHOOSE whether or not to allow smoking in their establishments. Then the public, could CHOOSE whether or not to go there. Freedom of choice....what an amazing concept. It seems the growing Nanny state does not think American adults are intelligent enough to make choices for themselves. I could really hop up on my soap box here, so I will quit while I am ahead.

[Dood]

I'd like to see them enable establishments to purchase a "smoking" permit to allow for smoking. You have to have a liquor license, you could do a smoking license. That way there would be actual financial incentive for there to be both kinds of establishments. If you give bar owners the choice gratis, there wouldn't be smoke-free bars.

[RumBarPhilly]

If the city of Philadelphia enacted a law stating that a bar can "choose" their smoking preference, bars like my own would surely close down. I'd have a choice to make... if I choose smoking allowed, we wouldn't be the calm, relaxing atmosphere and we would turn into a run of the mill tavern, where our patrons order beers and shots (not of rum). If I choose non-smoking, I would maintain the atmosphere and ambience, and my clientele might actually sway more to drinks of the finest spirit... rum. However, business would surely fall and I'd have to close shop.

So in other words... its either yes or no. If there was a choice, Id move shop to another area that has a smoking ban. My patrons have never had a problem going outside for a smoke, though as soon as the bar next door allows it, off they go!

[Tiare]

In Sweden you are allowed to smoke only in outdoor servings (which will of course only be from late spring to early fall) I`m not smoking myself, i used to many years ago, so i enjoy a smokefree environment but i still think people should be free to choose. If i would enter say a Tikibar abroad where people smoked i would still enjoy my drinks..
The best would be a smoke and a smoke free section.

[angelsword]

Since I am mildly allergic to tobacco smoke I really appreciate being able to go out clubbing without suffering the standard three day smoke headache that I used to get.