Sep 26, 2007 10:52 pm US/Central
Approaching Minn. Smoking Ban Concerns Bar Owners
by Esme Murphy
(WCCO)
-
-
Among the bar owners most concerned about the ban are those in Minnesota border towns because none of Minnesota's neighboring states has a smoking ban. (File)
CBS
Five nights from right now, every bar and restaurant in Minnesota will be smoke free. It's butts out Oct. 1.
Many communities around Minnesota already have bans in place. But many do not. In Fridley, patrons at Baggans bar don't mince words about the upcoming ban.
"I think it sucks," one patron said.
At least half of the bar had a smoke in hand, many here say they won't go out when the ban goes into place.
Patron Jamie Fiske said, "I have to have a cigarette with a beer so I probably wont go out for beers."
Baggans sits just feet from the Minneapolis border and owner LaDonna Rehbein is worried. Patrons have been coming from Minneapolis were a ban has been in place for years.
"Thats probably where we get most of our business because people know they can cross into Fridley and get a cigarette," said Rehbein.
But in the communities were the bans are in place predictions of lost business simply haven't come true. At Glueks in downtown Minneapolis, business is solid.
"We have regulars that come and support the bar," one waitress said.
"I have asthma so it's great to go out to bars and restaurants and not have to worry about that," said one patron.
But smaller bars in Minneapolis have been forced to close. Among the bar owners most concerned about the ban are those in Minnesota border towns because none of Minnesota's neighboring states has a smoking ban.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
