cigar
Cigar lovers are asking the Washington legislature to consider allowing them a place to smoke inside. (AP Photo/file)

Cigar lovers asking for place to smoke inside

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on February 14, 2013 @ 2:14 pm (Updated: 5:28 am - 2/15/13 )

Washington has the strictest smoking ban law in the nation. But on Thursday, cigar lovers went to the legislature to ask that they be allowed to open cigar bars where they can smoke inside.

Representative Eric Pettigrew has sponsored House Bill 1750 that would allow indoor smoking at cigar-specific bars.

"Being able to have an opportunity to partake in a cigar, at a cigar lounge, at our individual choice, should be ours and not restricted by the state," said Pettigrew.

State health secretary Mary Selecky is against the bill.

"We don't want to increase the exposure to second-hand smoke at all, in fact we work every day to decrease it. Tobacco kills, second-hand smoke kills," said Selecky.

Supporters say the only people exposed to the smoke would be people who choose to work at or frequent the bars who know what they are getting into.

Opponents say no one should be forced to deal with second-hand smoke in these shops.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • DonVigo wrote...
    I'll smoke to this.
    February 14, 2013 2:04 pm
    While I do agree with an employee's right to work in a safe envyronment, that thought is indeed offset by the "you knew what you were getting into when we hired you" mindset. I was barely 21 years old when the smoking ban went into effect, and although I was a non-smoker I was at my favorite local bar the night they had to pull the ashtrays at midnight to enjoy the last day of the era. Within less than a year, that bar, which had been opened and owned by the same local family since the 1930's had to close it's doors due to a lack of business. It's a shame that our need to nanny society has to cross the lines of common sense. In a perfect world, someone could own a bar which allows smoking to capitilize on that business while anyone with the urge to declare their establishment smoke-free could take on both the staff and customers that prefer that kind of envyronment. As you have to be an adult to go to a bar in the first place, reasonably speaking, you should have the right to make that decsion rather than have it forced upon you. Bring on the cigar bars, and let people enjoy themselves regardless of what harm they're doing to themselves and anyone else willing to endure it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • PHXCigarGuy wrote...
    I really hope this passes
    February 14, 2013 2:28 pm
    As a former Washingtonian who now lives in Phoenix and has the ability to smoke cigars in over 50 shops in the greater Phoenix metro, I really hopes this passes. It's a shame that this article omits several pieces of key information, including the annual license fees that each cigar bar and lounge would have to pay, that those fees would go to fund the state's smoking cessation helpline, and that this bill would prohibit cigarette smoking in these establishments - thus banning the products that cause the majority of smoking related cancers. It also omits the fact that enforcement of these rules would be handled by the WA St. Liquor Control Board, and that these licenses would be an incredibly valuable commodity to the people who have them due to their limited nature, so following the rules shouldn't be much of an issue. Hopefully the voters and elected officials of the State of Washington realize that the people who would be frequenting cigar bars and lounges are adults, people who are capable of making a choice as to what kind of environment they want to be in and what kind of air they want to breath. No one is forcing anyone to work in these establishments if they don't want to, and to suggest that this is their only option in most metro areas is just plane wrong. If you are a cigar or pipe smoker or you just don't want the state to continually tell you what you can do and when and where you can do it, I suggest you contact your state representatives and senators and encourage them to vote YES on this, and then contact Gov. Inslee and ask him to do the same. This isn't just about jobs and revenue, it's about protecting your freedom as an American adult. And to the writer of this article - please spell tobacco correctly.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    02-14-2013...
    February 14, 2013 2:48 pm
    Mama say "no dice"... Mama know best.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    State health secretary Mary Selecky is against the bill. ...
    February 14, 2013 3:51 pm
    And has appointed herself caretaker and mother to all human kind....but yet we approve pot so we can get revenue. What to outlaw next.....high heals for woman, they cause feet and leg injuries and I'm sure can kill as well. Maybe obesity, that we know for sure kills....maybe we intiate a fat tax.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Excellent
    February 14, 2013 3:56 pm
    Let's hope things change for us cigar fans!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Let it pass
    February 14, 2013 5:18 pm
    If you don't like it, then ont go there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bhummel wrote...
    Dont forget
    February 14, 2013 11:36 pm
    Dont forget the tribes donated over 200k to the passing of the ban on smoking indoors so they could hold the monopoly on cigar bars.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Screw Smokers.
    February 15, 2013 12:37 am
    Let them suffer. If they like Cancer so much let them smoke. Just in a place far away from people that don't smoke. Nonsmokers hate smokers because they do not have right to stink the air up like they do.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }