Minnesota bars exploit hilarious loophole in smoking ban

**alnorth** · 03-06-2008, 11:10 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335771,00.html

Quote:

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — All the world's a stage at some of Minnesota's bars.

A new state ban on smoking in restaurants and other nightspots contains an exception for performers in theatrical productions. So some bars are getting around the ban by printing up playbills, encouraging customers to come in costume, and pronouncing them "actors."

Extra Point · 03-06-2008, 11:16 PM

"Well, don't you know, toonaite I'm Humphrey Bogart, see, but witout de hat. And de accent. And de trenchcoat. Just de habit."

unlurking · 03-06-2008, 11:18 PM

Heh, commercial costume parties.

Those could be fun as long as nobody lets in the Furries.

**Rausch** · 03-06-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlurking

Heh, commercial costume parties.

Those could be fun as long as nobody lets in the Furries.

I'd pay good and hard-earned money to see Snoopy take it to Smurfette.

DenverChief · 03-06-2008, 11:25 PM

I don't understand why the non-smokers couldn't let the market play this out...certainly if a non-smoker wanted a non-smoking bar they could have opened one up and as they became more and more popular the smoking bars would go away...but NOOOOOOO you gotta have your way

**Rausch** · 03-06-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

I don't understand why the non-smokers couldn't let the market play this out...certainly if a non-smoker wanted a non-smoking bar they could have opened one up and as they became more and more popular the smoking bars would go away...but NOOOOOOO you gotta have your way

Because they find it "Icky."

It's going to be odd one day when my side and your side are both chanting about how it should be legal to suck a bundle of sticks on the evening news...

**Bugeater** · 03-06-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

I don't understand why the non-smokers couldn't let the market play this out...certainly if a non-smoker wanted a non-smoking bar they could have opened one up and as they became more and more popular the smoking bars would go away...but NOOOOOOO you gotta have your way

Because it isn't about what's best for the market, it's about imposing one's will upon another.

DenverChief · 03-07-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoBo

Because it isn't about what's best for the market, it's about imposing one's will upon another.

if it was about mandating a certain number of non-smoking bars per municipality or whatever I would be in favor but this is just silly...the casinos in Colorado reported a 20% drop in gambling revenue since the smoking ban (2 months since the casino exemption was taken away)...guess what the legislature is revisiting now?

**Bugeater** · 03-07-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

if it was about mandating a certain number of non-smoking bars per municipality or whatever I would be in favor but this is just silly...the casinos in Colorado reported a 20% drop in gambling revenue since the smoking ban...guess what the legislature is revisiting now?

Yep, it's all about doing what's best for people until it takes some revenue out of their pockets. That was proven here in Omaha when the city wide ban was put in a few years ago, any bar with Keno (run by the city) was exempt from the ban for five years. Hypocrisy at its finest.

It's funny that the anti-smoking nazis would rather we didn't smoke at all, but at the same time I doubt they are interested in helping replace all the tax revenue that would be lost if everyone quit.

**alanm** · 03-07-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoBo

Yep, it's all about doing what's best for people until it takes some revenue out of their pockets. That was proven here in Omaha when the city wide ban was put in a few years ago, any bar with Keno (run by the city) was exempt from the ban for five years. Hypocrisy at its finest.

It's funny that the anti-smoking nazis would rather we didn't smoke at all, but at the same time I doubt they are interested in helping replace all the tax revenue that would be lost if everyone quit.

Oh don't worry, Omaha and the state will find a way to collect the lost revenue. I've no doubt about that at all.

DenverChief · 03-07-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanm

Oh don't worry, Omaha and the state will find a way to collect the lost revenue. I've no doubt about that at all.

**Iowanian** · 03-07-2008, 08:29 AM

This sounds like the response nude clubs have used before.

Now playing.....

Cinnemon, shooting pingpong balls out of her fundamental organs, while reciting Shakespear.

**gblowfish** · 03-07-2008, 08:57 AM

I'm afraid of second hand acting.

**Iowanian** · 03-07-2008, 09:02 AM

You probably prefer Kitty Porn anyway.

Mr. Plow · 03-07-2008, 09:09 AM

I don't care for smoke in my face while I'm eating, but bars are another thing entirely. If you go to a bar not expecting a haze of smoke, you shouldn't be in a bar.

There is a bar here that has such bad ventilation that by 11pm every night, there is a fog from about 5 foot off the ground to the ceiling. That's the only place I've ever been that the smoke affects me.....I don't go there.

03-06-2008, 11:16 PM	#2
Extra Point MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prairie Village, KS Casino cash: $10004900	"Well, don't you know, toonaite I'm Humphrey Bogart, see, but witout de hat. And de accent. And de trenchcoat. Just de habit." __________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." --Satchel Paige
Posts: 7,845

03-06-2008, 11:18 PM	#3
unlurking MVP Join Date: Aug 2003 Casino cash: $7737309	Heh, commercial costume parties. Those could be fun as long as nobody lets in the Furries.
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03-06-2008, 11:25 PM	#5
DenverChief MVP Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rocky Ford Casino cash: $5699867	I don't understand why the non-smokers couldn't let the market play this out...certainly if a non-smoker wanted a non-smoking bar they could have opened one up and as they became more and more popular the smoking bars would go away...but NOOOOOOO you gotta have your way
Posts: 16,177

03-07-2008, 08:29 AM	#12
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4638454	This sounds like the response nude clubs have used before. Now playing..... Cinnemon, shooting pingpong balls out of her fundamental organs, while reciting Shakespear.
Posts: 61,556

03-07-2008, 08:57 AM	#13
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17606178 VARSITY	I'm afraid of second hand acting.
Posts: 40,843

03-07-2008, 09:02 AM	#14
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4638454	You probably prefer Kitty Porn anyway.
Posts: 61,556

03-07-2008, 09:09 AM	#15
Mr. Plow In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $1757391	I don't care for smoke in my face while I'm eating, but bars are another thing entirely. If you go to a bar not expecting a haze of smoke, you shouldn't be in a bar. There is a bar here that has such bad ventilation that by 11pm every night, there is a fog from about 5 foot off the ground to the ceiling. That's the only place I've ever been that the smoke affects me.....I don't go there.
Posts: 30,841