Smoking bill limits cigar bars to stogies

Publication Date: 2009-04-06

• Author:MARTHA STODDARD
• Publication:Omaha World-Herald

Cigarette smokers just can't catch a break.\Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that would exempt cigar bars from the statewide smoking ban but allow only cigar and pipe smoking to light up in such bars.

State senators voted 25-19 for an amendment to Legislative Bill 355 that would bar cigarette smoking in cigar bars, just as it will be in other public buildings and workplaces starting June 1.

LB 355 would exempt specially licensed cigar bars from the ban. Such bars must get 10 percent of their revenue from cigar sales, cannot sell food and must have a walk-in humidor.

State Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln offered the amendment, saying it would make clear that the exemption granted to cigar bars is very narrow. "Otherwise it's just a bar where people go to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol," he said.