If only actors can smoke, everyone's a star - Bar customers thwart Minnesota law with costumes

[BridgeTheGap]

All the world's a stage at some of Minnesota's bars.

A new state ban on smoking in restaurants and other nightspots contains an exception for performers in theatrical productions. So some bars are getting around the ban by printing up playbills, encouraging customers to come in costume, and pronouncing them "actors."

The customers are playing right along, merrily puffing away — and sometimes speaking in funny accents and doing a little improvisation, too.

The state Health Department is threatening to bring the curtain down on these sham productions. But for now, it's on with the show.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23505802/?GT1=43001

[Minnesota Raindog]

1. It's the last gasp of a dying species

The cigarette smoker. Too dumb to adapt, they will go the way of the dinosaurs...

[Generic Brad]

5. Looks like they are adapting to me

And speaking as a former smoker, I agree it is dumb to take up the habit. But once you are addicted, quitting is among the hardest things a person will ever do.

[pengillian101]

2. Dang - that cigarette looks good!

I will be smoke-free for one year in a couple weeks, but this sure looks tempting!



(And who says us Minnesotans aren't resourceful - hosting high-falutin New York City plays in low-down Minnesota bars - LOL! )

[dflprincess]

3. Congratulations

I just got to 6 months smoke free last week. I still occasionally have fantasies that the Surgeon General will announce that all the studies were wrong and those lousy lab rats all had cancer and heart disease before anyone forced fed them cigarettes.

[pengillian101]

4. Congrats to you

on your 6-month quit date!

Once your mind is REALLY made up to quit, it works. I tried many times to quit, but my mind wasn't really ready.

Cheers! :toast: