Mitch:

Heard a couple of interesting stories about the Ramsey County smoking I thought I'd pass along.

The general manager of one St. Paul restaurant applied for and received a six-month waiver to be able to continue to allow smoking in the bar area only. Regular patrons (nonsmokers) who had never complained about the smoke before were put off their feed when they learned that the restaurant had applied for a waiver and have vowed to no longer darken its door.

The owner of another St. Paul restaurant that has always been nonsmoking reports a significant drop in business since the smoking ban took effect due to the greater number of nonsmoking restaurants he must now compete with.

Just two examples of the unintended winners and losers government creates when it steps into the private marketplace.

Mike

Mike, the examples you've pointed out pretty much describe the contents of the post that Mitch linked to.