Barnacle’s Resort in Mille Lacs found a loophole to the statewide smoking ban

[Mayfly]

Mille Lacs Resort Finds Loophole in Minnesota Statewide Smoking Ban 
Resort makes customers theatrical performers, who can smoke 



LAKE MILLE LACS, Minn. -- Barnacle’s Resort in Mille Lacs found a loophole to the statewide smoking ban in Minnesota by designating customers as theater performers.

 

The smoking ban allows actors to smoke in theatrical performances. Barnacle’s handed out programs and sold buttons designating their customers as performers Saturday night.

 

Barnacle’s Resort co-owner Sheila Kromer says she plans to repeat the production every Saturday.

   

The smoking ban outlawed smoking in bars, restaurants and most other indoor workplaces in Minnesota last October.
 

[Spinach]

This ought to get very interesting....... I'm not a smoker but I can see how this loophole will be used by every bar and restaurant in the state!

[Tami]

I don't smoke either but i see alot of performances coming about on sat nights all around mn.

[Randy Kaar]

good work jim and sheila! hope that works out!
randy aka bh

[Moline Gang]

What was the reason smoking was banned by the state?...hmmm...oh ya, because it can cause tons of health problems! 

So, non-smokers have to breath in second hand smoke because smokers get to cold puffing out side?  Way to get around a law!

[Randy Kaar]

and next will be beer and booze...

randy aka bh

[Bigbuckhunter]

and next will be beer and booze...

randy aka bh

Sitting next to someone while they drink beer and or booze will not (in the majority of cases) cause health issues down the road.  A non-drinker can go out and enjoy a night at a bar.  Non-smokers tend to have some negative results to breathing in 2nd hand smoke all night.

My aunt passed away from lung cancer.  She was a non-smoker, but worked as a waitress in a bar for several years.   

I maybe a little sensative to this subject.

When smoking is allowed inside of bars, restuarants and other work places...then other people have to suffer.  If you chose to smoke why not do it where it doesn't effect other people who don't?

[Randy Kaar]

i am a smoker and have no prob going outside, but
when the bars invested thousands to install air cleaning
equiptment and the next year the state comes in and
changes the law. if i were a bar owner and losing
business i would be upset too. it will be interesting
to see what happens with barnacle. i will bet the
state will win this one!
my 2 cents
randy aka bh

[Harold]

Check out this commentary in this Sunday's Star tribune.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/15443781.html

Keep it going Barnacles.

[Randy Kaar]

thanks for the link harold, our goverment at work putting
a loophole in like that. they had to figure someone was
going to try and get around the law.

randy aka bh

[rockman]

Wow. I can see it all now, Rockman's Theater of the arts Bar and Grill  I love it Sheila. We will see what kind of heat it brings. I will be working on the script this week.  Maybe we should have every bar or restaurant in the area do it at the same time this weekend
The Rockman

[Randy Kaar]

heres the video from the mille lacs messenger
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzDJ4EBny8[/youtube]

randy aka bh

[Barnacles Resort]

I will only respond this one time on the issue being discussed since this is a fishing forum. Our take on the smoking ban is this...we would like to accomodate all of our customers..both smoking & non-smoking...neither should have to sit out in the cold. We support a segregated smoking room with it's own ventilation system so both smokers & non-smokers can be comfortable. Even though over 75% of our customers are smokers..we understand non-smokers objections to smoke. It is official...in 2009 the campaign starts against alcohol. The tatics discussed are the same as those used against smoking...make it socially unacceptable, raise the tax, and limit the venues that it can occur in. (A bill was just introduced in the legislature on Tuesday to raise the liquor tax in Duluth) Obseity is also on the agenda in case anyone hasn't noticed...A bill in the Mississippi legislature is being introduced this year to BAN FAT people from restaurants. Lastly, yes there are many bars that have contacted us so that they can have their own "performances". These smaller mom & pop places are having a hard time and many will not survive...if you heard their stories it would break your heart. These are not ficticious people but real people who have real lives.

Sheila   

[Randy Kaar]

thanks for the post sheila! a few bars here are
closing partly because of the smoking ban.
can you keep us posted on this?

thanks
randy aka bh

[UncleDave]

I think it's awesome what Barnacle Bill's is doing!  I don't think anyone would say smoking or second hand smoke is good for anyone.  That should not be the point.  It comes down to rights.  I as a non-smoker has a choice whether I want to go into a smokey bar or not.  That is MY decision.  To tell a business owner that pays enormous taxes who owns his/her own land and building that they not only must stop their customers from using a legal product in their business, but the business owner themselves couldn't even smoke on their own property is ridiculous.  Work, airplanes, etc are another story.  What's next, a gun ban?  Oh wait, they already did that.     

[schwinger]

I too think it is great that you found a loophole in this. I am, for the record, a non-smoker and a bartender. Thankfully the bar I work in has not been hit too hard by this smoking ban, but that is only because the other 3 bars with-in a few miles of us are on the verge of going under.

This all comes down to choice like UncleDave says, if you don't like the smoke no one is forcing you to eat, drink, or work in a bar/restaurant. You also have the choice to open a non-smoking bar/restaurant (how many of those were around before the ban),wonder why no one has done that if there are so many people out there that don't like the smoke. The answer is because the people complaining aren't the ones keeping bars in business. Now that they accomplished this what's next.....

Sheila, I am heading to Mille lacs this weekend hope we can make it in to say hi...

[tattguy12]

Sheila,
        I also am glad for your new found glitch. I have friends here in the city that bartend and there dying because the smokers drank  more and tipped better..Not saying non smokers tip better because ill get beat up for that one. But things are rough. I do like the idea of a choice of non smoking or smoking restraunts. Or maybe designate everyother day to smokers..Just a thought. well have to swing by and say hi the next time were up there. is there an mno discount??j/k

                  Kevin

[Barnacles Resort]

Kevin - I'll buy you a drink....hows that!

[Barnacles Resort]

Schwinger - there's a drink waiting.

 

Randy - What did you want to know?


Sheila

[Randy Kaar]

along with your fishing reports if you could critic
the performances also
you going to be at the little bar on th 16th for
houleos karaoke show?

randy

[Barnacles Resort]

No, I'm afraid I can't go. We are having our 2nd performance that night at Barnacles. It could get rather busy since we are advertising it on the Loon (a radio station up north). I heard that "The Rock" in Maplewood is having a performance on the 19th...it will be advertised on 93X.

There is also going to be a story in the Star & Tribune tomorrow.

I know of several bars that are having theatre nights this weekend in the Mille Lacs area.

[Randy Kaar]

this is gonna get real interesting! if every bar in
the state does this.

randy aka bh

[Tami]

OHH  Heck will someone buy me a drink too already?

[Barnacles Resort]

You got it!!

 

Sheila

[Tami]

yeah see, they spoil me....

[UncleDave]

When is the next "performance"? 

[Barnacles Resort]

We had another performance this last Saturday night and it was a huge success. We are planning another performance this Saturday night. A bar in Hill City (Mike's Uptown Liquor) had their 1st performance this last Saturday also...the mayor himself kicked off the start of it. They had a great night and Lisa (the bar owner) made enough to pay her back liquor sales tax....she is struggling to stay afloat. One of the customers that came Saturday night was a bar owner that just closed her doors (2 weeks aga) and laid off 7 employees. The Bird's Nest (in Garrison) is holding their 1st theatre night this coming Saturday...Birdie is down 80% and barely holding on right now. The Rock Night club in Maplewood is holding their 1st theatre night today starting at 8 pm. I have had phone calls from all over the state (small mom & pop places) wanting to have a theatre night...Warroad, Frazee, Little Falls,Grove City, Pilager, Nashwa, Floodwood, Grand Rapids,Garrison,Lansboro,etc... These people are desperate and just trying to survive. What can I say...?

[UncleDave]

I heard our great legislature already closed the "loophole" and increased the fine for "offenders".  That should put the nail in the coffin of many family owned bars/restaurants!  Thanks DFL and Pawlenty!

[JT]

Is this a fishing website or smoking?

[Mayfly]

Is this a fishing website or smoking?

I'm not sure......What do you think??