Henderson, MN Forums Community Henderson City Government Smoking Ban

Will Sibley County implement a county wide smoking ban?

Not to beat a possible "dead horse" but with so much discussion about the smoking ban in Mankato and North Mankato what is the status of smoking bans outside of the Twin Cities?

I live near Rochester and the whole county of Olmsted in non-smoking. Some say it has hurt business some say not. I do have to tell you it is different going into a bar that is non-smoking. You don't smell like the bar when you get home. I know there is serious talk about a state wide ban. I personally think it should be left up to the owners of each establishment. They are the ones who OWN there property. Should be their RIGHT. I don't smoke anymore and I don't have anything against anyone who does but it is a nice change when you go in and it is not smoky.

I live in Rochester and I love the smoking ban! I can't be around cigarette smoke because I have trouble breathing if I am around it. I love being able to go to a restaurant without having to worry about being too close to smoke.
I don't go to bars anymore, but I feel that just bar owners should be able to decide for themselves. I don't want to be subjected to smoke when I go out to eat.
I have gotten so use to the smoking ban here that when we go to the Twin Cities to eat out I have to remind myself I am not in Omsted county anymore! We actually tend to go to the Cities less and less for purposes of eating out because the still allow smoking in some of the counties up there.

With the "cigarette fee" that was applied to balance the budget in Minnesota do the cities that have the smoking ban get funds from this fee? Do they sell cigarettes in their stores but then tell you that you can't smoke them? Is there something wrong with this? I think bar and resturant owners, as tax payers, should have the right to allow or not allow smoking.

The smoking ban is good for everyone involved, smokers and non-smokers alike. Ideally, we would be able to leave the decision up to the bar-owners themselves. However, we don't live in an ideal world. Humans by in large aren't always able to make the decisions that benefit them and their brother-man the most and take everyones best interests in mind. Which is why the government has had to put its nose into this issue. Humans are creatures of habit. If they can smoke all night in a bar vs. walking outside to smoke instead, they're more likely to smoke less.

Living in a larger city with another next door that finally put the ban in place, the quality of the night life is so much improved you can't even measure it. You can go out to a bar and come home without feeling like you need a shower because your hair doesn't stink, your clothes don't stink, your skin doesn't itch from feeling dirty.

But once again, we don't always want to make decisions that would benefit the greater community, we look at it from a "taxpayer" position or as an "ownership" issue. If Gary or Larry owns the bar he should be able to run it the way he likes. And that's just not the case...and once Gary and Larry don't have the ciggie smoke in their bar to cover up the stench from the bathrooms, they end up needing to clean those once in a while too!

Smokers that I know have said repeatedly that they are in favor of the smoking ban for all of the statements I made above. Once you look at it as a quality of life issue the real reasons it should be done start to make themselves clear.

I got a phone call on the 15th, it was a survey in regards to smoking in public places. They stated that I needed to live in Sibley county to take part. They didn't know who was driving the survey, but obviously some group is coming after Sibley county. Most of the questions were very slanted, such as, "Do you feel you have the right to go to a bar/restaraunt and not come home smelling like a cigarette?" I had to answer no.

Although, if there is a smoking ban, I will be able to sneak in a stop (more stops?) at Charlies without the wife smelling it out.

The smoking ban has been in effect in Calgary and other places in Canada for over a year. Many restaurants, bowling alleys and pubs have constructed special smoking buildings that somehow are exempt from the smoke-free bylaw. We are finding that not only does it benefit patrons of bars & retaurants, (smelling like you take the bar or pub home with you), but also it's employees. Second-hand smoke is just as deadly to people as smoking itself.

Jennifer - they can try to ban it if they want, but you are SMOKIN'

If non-smokers feel infringed upon in public establishments, how in good PC conscience, can they infringe on smokers with a ban?
Designate each establishment. You, the patron can decide where you want to spend your money.
P.S.
Moderator,
I would have left a Graemlin if there was one smokin a grit.