[Mpls] Metro Smoking Bans

[Steve Brandt]

Dan McGrath says: This study was entirely flawed, and biased, however. It lumps Hennepin and
Ramsey Counties together, does not distinguish between food and alcohol
sales, nor does it distinguish between bar and liquor store sales.

Brandt:  For my money, the Pioneer's analysis was first-class work and a public service.  Sure, it lumped data together at the county level in one chart, but for those who took the time to read past the front page, there was plenty of data that was detailed down to the sub-city level.  That data was far more valuable than the half-baked anecdotal evidence we've gotten to date.  I think it's important to note that the number of places selling liquor in Mpls is up overall since the ban.  And although the sales data didn't separate out liquor stores, it reported that separate data indicate that liquor store sales were basically flat. 

Steve Brandt
Kingfield