Although this story is slightly dated, it's still worth telling. On a Saturday Evening, February 9th, Minnesota smokers fought back, lit up and acted out. Exploiting a little-known “theatrical performances” exception to the Freedom to Breathe Act, patrons of Barnacle’s Resort and Campground (https://www.barnaclesresort.com/) became actors for the evening and smoked cigarettes indoors – legally. Jim and Sheila Kromer – the owners of Barnacles Resort & Campground – agreed to host the first Theater Night.
News spread fast and soon over one hundred Minnesota bars were hosting their own versions of Theater Night. Despite the looming recession, many bar owners happily reported that their revenues immediately bounced back to pre-smoking-ban levels. Waitresses and bartenders were once again flush with tips and the future looked bright. Three weeks later, the Minnesota Department of Health weighed in and declared that any smoking during theatrical performances in bars violated the smoking ban. The Department filed lawsuits against several bars.
Faced with dire threats of more lawsuits and liquor license reviews, many bars discontinued hosting Theater Night.
However, Tom Marinaro of Tank’s Bar in Babbitt, Minnesota went to court and claimed that he was engaged in a legal activity – putting on improvisational plays, allowing patrons to sign up as actors and smoke as part of their theatrical performance. The court ruled against Mr. Marinaro but he has appealed. I could not find out about the outcome of his appeal.
Just a thought from a smoker. Yeah - I still do, but in the process. Anyway, Florida does allow smoking in bars. It's up to mamanagement to determine where, when and if. That's the way it's supposed to be. Period...
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Do I have to sign with Equity before I can light up?
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up with two two-pack-a-day smokers, I most definitely DO NOT MISS being around smoking whatsoever. I do however respect the rights of ALL property owners to do with their property as THEY see fit, including NOT serving WHOMEVER they wish, allowing smoking, banning guns, etc. THEY must face the consequences of their choices, but in the end it is THEIR property, not mine, and most definitely NOT THE F'ING STATE'S.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky when I quit. When cigs hit $20 a pack in Australia I simply couldn’t afford them. Nowadays the idiotic government keeps bumping up the price and who could possibly have thought a black market might appear and serious crime wave occur. Perhaps regrettably it killed my desire for a bit of weed as I think the stuff tastes like crap without tobacco spliff
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