[Mpls] Smoking Ban

[David Brauer]

On Jun 10, 2004, at 9:37 AM, Michael Atherton wrote:
>
> "A compromise that would limit tobacco to airtight smoking
> rooms' in St. Paul bars and restaurants appeared to win
> majority support from the City Council Wednesday."

If it gets a smoking ban through, I'm OK with it. But as a 12-year 
bar/restaurant worker (I slung hash in the same hotel as Robert 
Lilligren), I wonder about some practical difficulties, many admittedly 
minor:

1. Define air-tightness: Does that mean airlocks? After all, doors to 
the smoke-filled room have to open. How to keep the smoke from pouring 
out? (Admittedly, there would be less ambient smoke than currently, but 
I'm leery that using a term such as "airtight" is overselling the 
practical reality.)

2. Call it "the drug-dealing room." As I understand it, no employee is 
compelled to enter the Nicotine Chamber. The rooms will either be 
separate or, in the case of a glassed-in room, obscured by smoke. Not 
so great for security.

3. Air-quality standards. I understand that these rooms have to be 
ventilated, but is there any standard for air quality they must meet?

4. Proven success. Any other locality tried this successfully?

Also, a tip of the cap to WJ Kahn's wonderful coinage "Vice Asylum."

David Brauer
Kingfield