Evans eyes cigar smoking exemption for large D.C. hotels

Publication Date: 2010-03-02

• Author:Michael Neibauer
• Publication:Washington Examiner

A D.C. Council member wants to exempt large hotels from the District's strict smoking ban, once a year only, so that the District's well-heeled can enjoy a cigar indoors during a pair of annual events.

Legislation authored by Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans would provide an exemption "once a year for one day for the purposes of hosting a special event which permits cigar smoking."

Any hotel with banquet space for at least 500 could apply, and hotel employees must be allowed to opt out of working the event without penalty. Evans will ask his colleagues Tuesday to adopt the bill on an emergency basis.

As it would take effect immediately, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick could light up during their annual St. Patrick's Day dinner at the Capitol Hilton. The organizers of Fight Night at the Washington Hilton, held in November, also might relish the exemption. Evans is a member of the Friendly Sons, a social organization for the area's Irish upper crust. The council member suggested that event promoters might take their business elsewhere if they are not freed from the smoking ban.