Hennepin county (Minneapolis) is considering easing up their smoking ban.

[nebula]

Article

Let's not debate if a smoking ban should be implemented or not. I'm more interested in hearing peoples' thoughts on if there truly is an economic impact and if so, how much? Or is the guy that's gunning for mayor just trying to gain popularity with smokers?

I've always just heard that the bans in CA/NY have not had an adverse effect but I haven't seen any real data.

My thought is the legislature should work on a statewide ban, then the bars wouldn't have the argument that they lose patrons to other counties, then let's see.

edit: typo

 

[GoPackGo]

The problem is when your city bans smoking and your close and I mean close neighbors don't. It's easier for people to go somewhere else.

 

[Todd33]

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
The problem is when your city bans smoking and your close and I mean close neighbors don't. It's easier for people to go somewhere else.

Good riddance.

 

[Blizno]

OP suggested a state-wide ban. That would solve the problem of people going elsewhere except near state borders.

I wonder how many new customers the bars get after the ban. Lots of people stay away from bars because of the smoke.

 

[Pantoot]

Originally posted by: Todd33

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
The problem is when your city bans smoking and your close and I mean close neighbors don't. It's easier for people to go somewhere else.

Good riddance.

Not when you are a bar owner and are trying to compete for customers with someone whose government isn't telling them what sort of patrons they can cater to.

 

[nebula]

Yes, that is the problem with county/city specific bans, if you live on the fringe, it's easy to drive a little further. I really want to know how it's affected businesses. I can kinda see that the small, dank bars where people go to sit, drink, and smoke might be having a harder time, but take for instance downtown Mpls., you go to that area for a different purpose. I guess what I'm trying to say is the "local watering holes" may see more of an impact because the patrons that live down the street may not want to go there to "hang out". But the places where you go for a night on the town may not be adversly affected.

 

[Genx87]

I believe after the ban in California it hurt for awhile but eventually sales went up about 7-9%.

Everywhere I go that has smoking bans the bars are filled. If you think about the reasoning it is kind of funny. Smoking has to be done with drinking. Nobody goes to the bar to smoke. They go to have a drink and socialize.

I dont really buy into many of the bar owners complaints. They said the same thing when the Wild took a season off. They say the same thing whenever they talk about moving the vikings out of downtown.

I go downtown and the place is as packed as ever. Are they saying nobody is buying a drink?

Now the bars on the edge? I dont know but maybe they should bring the ban statewide to even the playing field.