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City council too hard on bars
BY PETER ZETHRASU
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
iISSUE: 78/26
ASSOCIATED PRESS
On Monday, March 24, the Duluth News Tribune reported that the Duluth City Council considered an ordinance that could significantly limit the chance for Duluth area bars to provide outdoor seating. Bars of course want outdoor seating so that their patrons can be served alcohol and smoke.
Coming after the statewide smoking ban that took effect in October 2007, many bars throughout the city petitioned the city council for permits to be able to serve liquor outside in specific sidewalk areas. However, shortly afterwards, the council put off permits until a comprehensive regulation was approved and passed by the council, according to the Duluth News Tribune.
The ordinance was recently introduced and requires that bars with outdoor seating on public property still have “at least six feet of public sidewalk left,” according to the Duluth News Tribune. This provision hinders many bars from having seating outside. Other stipulations specified in the ordinance include that the outdoor areas are encircled by a fence or barrier to prevent buyers from taking alcohol off of the bar grounds, as well as providing increased staff to monitor the area.
As a non-smoker, I don’t particularly mind having the smoking ban in bars and restaurants, but I completely understand those who are smokers and have a problem with it. I do not feel that the government should have the right to tell independently owned businesses whether or not smoking can be allowed. If the government is looking out for the interests of the non-smoking employees who work at these types of establishments, I feel they should improve the employment opportunities for those in the service industry.
On the other hand, non-smokers appreciate being able to go into a bar or restaurant and not having to worry about inhaling secondhand smoke. But does smoking outdoors really present such an extreme threat? I honestly don’t think so, and for those who do smoke, this is not too much for them to ask. Methods can be taken to assure that liquor is not taken off of the property, if that’s what authorities are worried about with alcohol being served outside.
When it comes down to it, I really don’t see any clear resolution for this type of situation. Either the smoking ban remains in place and bars risk losing business, or the smoking ban is lifted and our government risks endangering public health. The best that we can hope for is some sort of compromise. However, I do feel that the city council would be taking a step in the right direction if they allowed for outdoor seating at bars.
