Boston Considers Cigar Bar Ban

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 9th 2008 at 7:02PM

Thus far, cigar bars in big cities have been mostly immune from bans on smoking but that may change in Boston. The Boston Public Health Commission will vote soon on whether or not to expand smoking restrictions which would ban cigar bars and hookah bars as well as the sale of tobacco in pharmacies and on college campuses. The AP reports that the commission gave preliminary approval to the rules in September and will make a final vote on Thursday. Boston has had smoking restrictions in place for four years.

There are bans on smoking bars in 52 communities across the United States including some in Massachusetts but a potential Boston ban would be significant simply because it is such a big city. The cigar bar ban would not go into effect for five years but the tobacco sales bans on campuses and pharmacies would go into effect in 60 days.

What prompted the potential ban? Turns out that in this case you can blame the hookah. A rise in license requests for hookah bars was a major reason for the increased scrutiny. Because the demographics of hookah bars skew younger, the city is concerned that the youth of the city is doing too much smoking. It seems to me that "event smoking" in places like cigar bars is the lesser evil healthwise compared to the daily cigarette smoker.

Tags: boston, cigar bars, CigarBars

Filed under: Cigars

Source

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

Zaphod Dec 10th 2008 4:12PM

If these cities were serious they would ban all tobaco sales, period. Why don't they do that? They are hooked on the tax revenue. Plus all the gas stations would close.

Gregg Dec 10th 2008 4:38PM

I hope someone stands up against this. Why not outlaw bars as alcohol is addicting and kills. Why
not outlway fast food businesses as people become obese and die. Why not outlaw gas stations as if you inhale the fumes you can get cancer?

Fact is, 10% of those that smoke get a related diseaase. That's ten percent. 90% are not effected
and remain healthy.

Im sick to death of big brother dictating our lives and if the people of Mass. have any backbone they will unite and stip this atrocity on basic freedoms.

No wonder this country is so screwed up.

Thor Dec 10th 2008 5:10PM

What liberals can't regulate, they ban. Like gun control, it's not about cigar control, it's about PEOPLE control. Liberals think that they doth know better for thee than thou dost. Thou are stupid. They are enlightened.

Frank Dec 10th 2008 6:06PM

Please, Please, Please leave us alone, to enjoy an occasional cigar with friends. I assure you we will not affect your lives or harm you in any way. Whatever happened to live and let live. Now it's legislate and legislate away all our simple pleasures in life. Enough already!

TonyChicago Dec 10th 2008 5:54PM

I am NOT a smoker. But I think smoking bans are silly.
If our elected officials are so concerned about the health ramifications of smoking, why not just ban the sale and use of tobacco all together? But they won't because they LOVE the taxes they collect and spend.
They are all hippocrits and whores.Our Governor here in Ill. is a prime example of what I'm talking about.

John Dec 10th 2008 6:01PM

I would rather be on the highway with someone who just enjoyed a good cigar, instead of with people who just stumbled out of a saloon. This is beyond ridiculous. If you don't like smoke, don't go to a cigar bar. If you hate chinese food (or any other) would you go to a chinese restaurant? It would never happen, but booze should only be allowed to be consumed in your home. Auto accidents, fights, abused spouses, crime, time off work and much more that are all alcohol related.

Dave Dec 10th 2008 6:03PM

Just more liberal nonsense. It's high time that we take back our country. If I OWN a business and want it to be smoking, which is still legal, I should be allowed to have smoking in my establishment. If patrons don't want to be exposed to the smoke, they don't have to give me their business.

Scott Dec 10th 2008 6:40PM

If you don't want to be around cigars - Don't go to a Cigar Bar. The State has no right or obligation to ban a LEGAL ACTIVITIY in a PRIVATE BUSINESS.

z hanson Dec 10th 2008 6:36PM

That's not such a big news story here. You can't smoke anything in any public building here in communist Iowa......exept in the casinos

giff Dec 10th 2008 6:40PM

I think Cigar Bars and Smoking bars should stay. As a current non smoker ( I quit 25 years ago) I wouldn't want ANYONE who wants to put a penis substitute in their mouth deprived of that pleasure...especially those closet gay macho men who smoke cigars...they might just as well be smoking the baldy boy but they can't do it in public so I understand their concern that their opportunity for a surrogate penis in the mouth might be taken away from them

BetsyA Dec 10th 2008 8:08PM

I think the ban is silly. IF a person goes into a cigar bar they do by choice.

They are trying to take ALL freedoms away from us.
My guy enjoys his cigars and cigar bars are about the only place left, except the back yard.

Pretty soon they will probably ban that in your yard and house. And I am not joking!

I have had realtors tell me nowdays,home buyers are buying new homes over resales, because of the smoking smell that resides in older homes.

The same thing with cars. I smoke and enjoy it. I had many people call re my Mercedes sedan, and even though I had it detailed inside, many claimed they could still tell smoking in the car and did not buy it.

ismokeweed Dec 10th 2008 7:32PM

ciggaretts and cigars kill hundreds of thousands of people due to health related problems...... marijuana kills 0 due to health related problems... then add in the alcohol and hmmmmm we see a huge problem here..... its time we rise as one and make weed legal!!!!!!!

Gary Dec 10th 2008 7:46PM

Another reason I have never liked Boston. Nanny liberal government, obnoxious people and bad drivers.

DANA Dec 10th 2008 8:01PM

OH BOY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION AND SOME WIZARD HAS FIGURED OUT A WAY FOR MORE BUSINESSES TO CLOSE and less taxes to be collected and another joy taken away from people.(cigar bars)I started smoking when i was 7 ,now i'm 55,still breathing,a lot of people i knew growing up i.e. my age are dead some killed by drunk drivers, some suicide, some just died,you get the idea,I have never known anyone who died and had on his tombstone,THIS DUDE DIED CAUSE HE LIT UP A STOOGIE ONCE IN AWHILE,now I have known perfectly healthy people who have gone into a hospital for some simple operation, came out dead as hell, I knew a man ,great health non smoker too, went to the dentist ,to get a tooth pulled,died right there in the chair,I wonder how many people that die in war ,never smoked?how about that famous runner a few years back was out running , dropped dead,now I do believe in God and church but there is a little town I pass through ,and I would never smoke in church,don't go anyway,but on this church is a big BIG banner that claims we accept you anyway you are no one will be turned away,and on the entrance door you can see a BIG NO SMOKING SIGN... makes me LMAO!LIKE WHO KNEW?So AS YOU CAN SEE I HAVE VENTED A LOT OF ANGER HERE AND IT WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING,ESPECIALLY NOT ME ,SMOKIN TILL I DIE. THANK YOU

Previous 20 Comments