The Wake

Nightlife will be a lot less hazy around campus this. Beginning on March 31, 2005, smoking will be forbidden in bars, restaurants, pool halls and bowling alleys in Minneapolis. The St. Paul City Council is working with Mayor Randy Kelly on a similar ban.

Many smokers are feeling left out in the cold by the smoking bans. Barb Devos, a supervisor and server at Bar Abilene in Uptown,said shebelieves there could be a more reasonable approach.

“The ban takes away from the freedom of what we want to do,” Devos said. “When you go to a bar at night you should expect smoke.”

Devos said she thinks that the ban should prohibit smoking during the day but allow patrons to light up at night. She has been a server for eight years and used to smoke. She quit when she recently became pregnant but said secondhand smoke does not bother her.

While Devos can tolerate the smoke, other restaurant workers do not think they should be forced to breathe it. Shannon Dinovo, a hostess at Tonic in Uptown, socially smokes but considers herself a nonsmoker. She supports a limited ban.

“I think it should be allowed at bars but not around food,” Dinovo said. “You don’t like having smoke being blown in your face as you walk by.”

Dinovo wants the same protection that many workers get under the Minnesota Indoor Clean Air Act. The 1975 law was the first in the nation to limit smoking and require public places to designate smoking areas. Later revisions required most public places and workplaces to be smoke free or have strict enclosed smoking areas with proper ventilation.

The conflict between public health and an individual’s right to smoke prompted the Indoor Clean Air Act and the recent smoking bans. But politicians also disagree as to whether the city, county or state governments should make the decision. Opponents of the ban argue that if cities pass bans, customers will dine and drink in nearby cities that allow smoking.

Although the feedback on smoke prohibition across the country is mixed, Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff said he doesn’t think there will be a negative impact.

“I can’t foresee any economic impact,” Schiff said. He said studies have shown smoking bans have no adverse effect and sometimes benefit bars and restaurants.

Schiff said the Minneapolis ban is fair because it covers every establishment in Minneapolis. Tom Nesheim, a bar manager at Sally’s Saloon, doesn’t agree with Schiff.

“If the smoking ban only covers Minneapolis, it will have an impact on our business,” Nesheim said. “Smokers will go where they can smoke.”

Schiff said the only way smoking will be limited is if cities act.

“Advocates in Minneapolis are confident that a legislature will not vote for a statewide ban. They tell me this is a local issue.”

Schiff and St. Paul City Council Member Dave Thune proposed the bans after the state legislature turned down a proposal earlier this year. While the Minneapolis officials have been relatively quick to make a decision, St. Paul council members voted in favor of a ban twice. Mayor Kelly vetoed it the first time and may veto it again. The St. Paul mayor wants to coordinate efforts with Ramsey County officials in order to minimize the loss of revenue in bars. Hennepin County is also considering a ban.

George Atsidakos, partial owner of the Steak Knife in Dinkytown, also said he thinks the smoking ban won’t have a negative outcome. The Steak Knife voluntarily bans smoking during the day, but at night they allow their patrons to light up. Although Atsidakos does not think the ban will be harmful, he thinks customers should have their rights.

“It’s all about taking care of the guest. If they want to smoke, you should let them,” Atsidakos said.