By: Nolan Peterson
Proctor Journal

The smoky haze surrounding Minnesota bars has been lifted, and the bartenders are able to breathe easier. Now that the dust has settled, how has the Freedom To Breath Act , which took effect Oct. 1, 2007, affected Proctor?

Mary Ann Sheffler, 21, a bartender at the Keyboard Lounge in Proctor says, “It’s cleaner in here, it doesn’t smell so bad.” Sheffler recently quit smoking and was working on the night the ban took effect. “One person did walk out at midnight [when the ban went into effect]…but he has been back.” Sheffler recounted, “nothing too negative.”

A few days after the Freedom to Breathe act was put in place, the number of people standing around the front and back entrances of bars has increased as smokers are now being herded into smoking corrals.

This law does not only protect bartenders, it is meant to provide a safe working environment for everyone in the state. This includes those who sell the pull tabs, like Michelle Atwater, 23, who has worked at the PowerHouse for a year. Michelle smokes about a half a pack of cigarettes per day, but she is pleased with the outcome of the Freedom to Breathe Act. “It’s less smoky in here, my clothes don’t stink when I go home from work.”

Pull tabs affected

The pull tab charitable gambling operations in the PowerHouse and Tailgate lounge are run by the Irving Community Club. Donations to area charities such as The Salvation Army, and the Duluth Food Shelf could be reduced if fewer smokers go out and play.

“Oh, it’s been affected,” said Genny Hinnenkamp, gambling manager of the Irving Community Club, “we took the [pull tab] booth out of the Pit Stop in Proctor.”

While the official numbers are still being compiled to see how, economically, this new piece of legislation is affecting Minnesota bar owners, Michelle Atwater still sees the same people; they just go outside to smoke.

The Freedom to Breathe Act of 2007 was signed in to law by Governor Tim Pawlenty on May 16, 2007. The main focus was to protect employees and the general public from the side effects of second-hand smoke. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, local law enforcement officers have the power to issue misdemeanor citations to proprietors or individuals who knowingly fail to comply with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA). Thus far, the Proctor Police Department has issued no citations to area bars.

The state legislature passed this law to protect the people working in these hazardous environments. So far, the majority of bartenders and workers in Proctor drinking establishments feel they are being protected. Bar owners, however, don’t like being told what they can and cannot permit in their establishments.

The Freedom to Breathe Act was introduced by a bi-partisan group of four principal legislators: Sen. Kathy Sheran-DFL, Sen. Steve Dille-R, Rep. Tom Huntley-DFL, and Rep. Dan Severson-R. The bill was first introduced to the state senate on January 25, 2007, and was presented to the House of Representatives on March 29, 2007.