STORM2K

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:56 am**

"I'm very happy, and happy for people that work in bars and restaurants," said St. Paul City Council Member Dave Thune, author of the city's smoking ban. "It's a great day for public health."

I smell a sense of irony in that statement.

Posted on Thu, Mar. 30, 2006
Smoking ban to start Friday
Judge rules against bar owners' effort to stop enforcement
BY JASON HOPPIN
Pioneer Press

Thune no stranger to controversy
St. Paul's smoking ban will take effect Friday as scheduled after a Ramsey County judge turned back an effort by 16 St. Paul bar owners to stop its enforcement.

Judge David Higgs ruled Wednesday that St. Paul can regulate smoking in bars and restaurants, even though bar owners could suffer economically from a ban.

"We're obviously disappointed with the court's ruling," said Patrick O'Neill, a lawyer for the challengers. "It's a death sentence for some of the small, neighborhood border bars."

The bar owners argued that since St. Paul merged its health department with Ramsey County's unit in 1996, it no longer has authority to legislate health matters. But Higgs ruled the city never gave up that right.

"I'm very happy, and happy for people that work in bars and restaurants," said St. Paul City Council Member Dave Thune, author of the city's smoking ban. "It's a great day for public health."

Though the ruling is restricted to whether the city should be temporarily enjoined from enforcing a smoking ban in bars, restaurants, pool halls, bingo parlors and more while the suit plays out, it also is a signal that the bar owners' challenge isn't going anywhere.

City Attorney John Choi said Wednesday's ruling is a "strong indication that the judge is going to see it our way."

The ban takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

Though many studies on the economic effects of smoking bans have found minimal impact, bar owners say they will lose customers to cities bordering St. Paul. O'Neill said his clients are disappointed by the ruling.

"They feel picked on and upset. How can you have smoking in Maplewood and Roseville but not in St. Paul?" O'Neill said.

The ruling came one day after a Minnesota appeals court denied an appeal by a Minneapolis bar to suspend that city's smoking ban, which took effect March 31, 2005. The court also ruled that the bar was likely to fail on its claims.

The ban represents the third effort by the City Council to enact a smoking ban. Former Mayor Randy Kelly vetoed the previous two efforts. Mayor Chris Coleman signed the current law into effect after being sworn in earlier this year.

Ramsey County has a partial smoking ban that has been in effect for a year. It allows bar owners who do more than 50 percent of their business in alcohol to apply for an exemption. More than 100 St. Paul bars did so.

The bars and restaurants taking part in the suit are Arcade Bar, Champp's of St. Paul, Costello's Bar & Grill, DeGidio's Restaurant & Bar, Fabulous Fern's Bar & Grill, Gabe's by the Park, Hat Trick Lounge, Lonetti's Lounge, Minnehaha Lanes, Mr. C's, Ron's Bar, The Town House, The Wild Onion, Wild Tymes Sports Bar & Grill, Winners Tavern and Yannarelli's Bar.

Jason Hoppin can be reached at jhoppin@pioneerpress.com or 651-292-1892.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/14217895.htm

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:28 am**

They should just make smoking illegal then.... :roll:

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:34 am**

Smoking is banned in restaurants and bars in this county. There has been talk about banning it from city parks and historical uptown in the city.

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:05 pm**

A few years ago, the City of Dallas has enforced the same smoking ban as well.

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2006 1:07 pm**

Yep same here a year or so back. But all the resaurants just have outside seating now and you can smoke there. Also in bars once it gets late people light up anyways and no one says nothing.

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:20 am**

Stephanie wrote:They should just make smoking illegal then....

Stephanie times are changing. Gone are the days where you could light up in any public building.There is even one military base where smoking is forbidden everywhere even outside and in your private vehicle. A few companies and a lot of police and fire departments now prohibit any tobbacco use on or off duty, as are many private businesses.

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:54 am**

As a smoker myself I agree with some of the laws. I'm a courteous smoker. I don't smoke in other peoples houses or cars. I don't smoke inside my own house. I have stepped outside to smoke at work for years.But to go as far and tell a business owner and property owner that they cannot allow smoking in their business is going a little too far.

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:21 pm**

I agree mama. You should be allowed to do what you want in your own establishment.

What happen to you little avatar? He looks so sad now, has he been put in time out? :lol:

Oh nevermind, he wasn't wiggling but now he is. :?:

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:50 pm**

It has happened here in Appleton (you can follow by http://www.postcrescent.com ) Appleton Smoking Ban. the Post Crescent has a good history of the smoking ban.

Right now, it is in effect, however, people are trying their hardest to get the ban lifted. As a non-smoker, I love it.... I don't go home smelling like a smoke!!! Regardless on what you do.... it takes days to clean the smell of smoke from your skin (after only a few hours in a smoky bar)

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:18 pm**

Good! We had a ban enacted in NY a couple of years ago, and bars and restaurants are doing great despite doomsayers predicting that they would go out of business. Such a ban is good for the waiters/waitresses, good for the bartenders, good for the bar and restaurant patrons, good for everyone!

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 3:27 pm**

Smoking is bad. Ban it everywhere!

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:43 pm**

george_r_1961 wrote:
Stephanie wrote:They should just make smoking illegal then....

Stephanie times are changing. Gone are the days where you could light up in any public building.There is even one military base where smoking is forbidden everywhere even outside and in your private vehicle. A few companies and a lot of police and fire departments now prohibit any tobbacco use on or off duty, as are many private businesses.

I understand that - noone knows it better than I.

Some idiot from the NJ State Government wanted to ban people from smoking in their cars. One response to that from a citizen was "the day when they don't allow me to smoke in my car will be the day they can make my car payments".

I don't think that anyone has the right to tell you what you can do when you are not at work. IF it has to do with health insurance, then those people should pay a premium. I have no problem with that. It's my choice. I'm tired of people regulating the crap out of my life.

Still, it is getting to the point where they may as well make smoking illegal.

Posted: **Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:58 am**

Here's another smoking ban:
_____________________________________________________________

Bermuda bans smoking in bars and restaurants

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Reuters) - A smoking ban in Bermuda's bars and restaurants began on Saturday with drinkers who sneak an illegal puff eventually facing fines of $250.

The ban also covers shops and other enclosed public places in the mid-Atlantic British territory, although there will be no prosecutions until October because of a six-month grace period to allow people to get used to the new law.

Repeat offenders will face fines of $1,000 in Bermuda, a popular holiday destination and major offshore financial center.

The anti-smoking law also bans the advertising of tobacco at sporting events, the installation of cigarette vending machines and the sale of cigarettes to people under 18.

STORM2K

Smoking ban in St. Paul

Smoking ban in St. Paul