Minneapolis ordinance would put earplugs in music venues

An ordinance slated for a hearing at City Hall would require Minneapolis bars and restaurants with live music and dancing to carry earplugs. The sponsor, Council Member Jacob Frey, said the earplugs would be provided -- free of charge -- by a private company.

The idea originated, Frey said, after a man named Brian Felsen, working in conjunction with Miracle Ear and 3M, approached the city.

"When you look at the combination of some of these kids that walk around with headphones for 95 percent of the day and then go to the club at night and blast their eardrums out again, it's a problem," Frey said.

"What Miracle Ear and actually 3M are doing is they're providing [earplugs] free of charge, so none of these businesses pay a dime, not a single dime," Frey said. "And all the city's asking is that you just have them. Have the earplugs on hand."

Frey said he thinks this may the first program of its kind in the country.

The proposed ordinance, which will get a hearing on April 1, would apply to Class A and Class B liquor licenses. Those are businesses that can have live music with unlimited performers, disc jockeys and all forms of entertainment.

Other bars and restaurants, with lesser liquor licenses, would not be affected.

Felson did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday afternoon.

Deepak Nath, one of the owners of The Pourhouse on Hennepin Avenue, said he was generally supportive of the proposal.

"My position would be that if the government can provide a tool for us to do good or to provide safety and comfort for our customers, I'm all supportive of doing the right thing because its at no cost so it's a no brainer," Nath said.

"As a conservative, I'm not a big fan of being mandated to do it. But ... I know Jacob's motivations are pure and when he has the ability to provide something at no cost, the city should take advantage of those types of things."

Here is the most recent version of the ordinance: