Victory for Cigar Bars in Nebraska!

Well, finally, in a time when it seems smokers’ rights are being extinguished daily, there’s finally a small victory for cigar smokers in Nebraska. The “cigar bar bill” has just been signed by the Governor that puts an exemption in a current smoking ban for cigar bars provided they make 10% of their revenue from tobacco and tobacco-related products. Is Scotch a tobacco-related product? The exemption is schedule to take effect in September. Congratulations, Nebraska! Light one up for the governor.

Gov. Dave Heineman has signed a bill that would exempt cigar bars from the statewide smoking ban set to take effect in June. Under the bill (LB355), only cigars, not cigarettes, could be smoked in cigar bars.

And to be considered a cigar bar, at least 10 percent of a bar’s sales would have to come from cigars and other tobacco and tobacco-related products — not including cigarettes.

Heineman signed the measure on Wednesday morning.

Some opponents think the bill’s on shaky legal ground, because it amounts to a special, unnecessary favor for cigar bars, one that conflicts with the reason for the ban: to promote public health. Attorney General Jon Bruning’s office disagrees. The exemption won’t go into effect until September.

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/43441912.html

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1. 

   JasonT says:

   April 23, 2009 at 8:13 am

   That is quite a victory. I wonder if regular bars can make the exemption if 10% of their sales are tobacco also.
2. 

   Se7en_Vandalay says:

   April 29, 2009 at 10:24 am

   It’s a ray of hope in the seemingly neverending barrage of attacks on places where we can enjoy a cigar without being confined to our porches or garages.

   Thanks for finding and posting this.