May 6, 2005
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A smoking ban in Minneapolis was passed last year and started a month ago. Pretty much every one who knows me knows that I vehamently opposed the ban for multiple reasons. I’ve been gone for most of the time the ban has been in force, but in the time I have been here, my initial observations:
* The bars I like to go to that have patios are doing OK with it.
* The bars I like that don’t have patios are suffering badly.
* It is far noisier outside bars for many more hours as the conversation comes outside with the smokers.
* It is far more difficult to walk down the street without having to walk through clouds of smoke.
* The music scene is suffering a bit. As an example, this is an email from an Irish band I sometimes listen to:
Now, I need to rant a little. This is for everyone who has ever said they would come to one of our gigs, but don’t like the smoke. Hennepin County now has a smoking ban..where are you? We played out last month (our monthly Keegan’s gig) and played to 6 people. A drastic cut in population from the usual. The smoking ban is really kicking the bars butts. They need you. We need you. There are precious few places for bands like us and other festie bands to play already and if attendance at bars with music keeps dwindling they will stop hiring musicians. I like playing at festival, but if that were the only place to play, I would go crazy. Please support your local music bar and keep the musicians in business. End rant.
Eventually things will probably even out, but I should note that after spending 4 months in the smoke free bars of Vancouver BC, their music scene pales in comparison to the Twin Cities. I hope we don’t lose it.
Comments (3)
I’m not a smoker, but you’re right…bars do suffer when there’s a ban. And even as a non-smoker, the most memorable date I’ve been on with my sweetie was when we went to a bar where the restaurant part was just within the limits of allowing smoking at the tables because he didn’t need to excuse himself to go outside whenever he felt the need to light up. No smoke breaks away from the conversation on that date, the only time he left me alone at the table was to go use the restroom. (I do wish he’d quit, but only for the sake of his health.)
~Laura
*nod* I completely support encouraging people to quit. Heck, I encourage people to open non smoking bars, restaurants, and night clubs. I would just like to see the choice belong to the people.
I never thought about the music choices. That’s pretty severe, but I still support a smoke-free environment in the bars and restaurants downtown.