Federal Cigar Tax threatens us all

A federal cigar tax…
That’s down right EVIL!

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Nicaragua objects to U.S. cigar tax

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Possible exemption for cigar bars from the Ohio smoking ban.

Folks I got a message from THE “Cigar Jack” recently.
He’s fired up about a possible exemption for cigar bars from the Ohio smoking ban.

This only makes sense.
And while common sense rarely rules the day in politics it is our duty as citizens and as BOTLs to try and make a difference.

If you are in Ohio please call your local Senators and ask them to support the exemption (SB No 195).

You can get more info on the bill, and get details on who exactly your Ohio Senator check is by following the links Cigar Jack made available in his post.
Check it out here - and if you’re in Ohio don’t miss this opportunity to improve your cigar life.

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Salem cigar and tobacco shop owners work against smoking ban

In Salem, N.H several dozen cigar and tobacco shop owners are working together to oppose a smoking ban in bars and restaurants.

Even though cigar and tobacco shops are exempt from the ban, the groups sees this as a potentially very bad thing for their business.

David Garofalo, who runs the Salem shop “Two Guys Smoke Shop” said:

An interesting point that I honestly haven’t considered a great deal as it seems the best we can EVER hope for is an exemption these days.

Also I am always tempted to believe that much of the bulk cigar purchases being made these days is moving online.
The deals are just so much better online when you’re buying a box or more.

For me anyway local cigar shops have become a place to try new things, meet BOTLs, and share a cigar and conversation.
And while the social aspect of the cigar shop is a very important one (for our national culture let alone we cigar smokers) giving the local tobacconist every reasonable chance to compete with the online world is also a pretty important thing.

Garofalo goes on to say that he would like the state to stay out of regulating where people can and can’t smoke and let business owners make that decision.

Wow what a novel Idea.

Preach on brother Garofalo!
The StogiCast.com crew is with you in spirit.
If we can help - don’t hesitate to make contact!

(soruce: boston.com)

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Denver fights for it’s right to party.

A court in Denver recently declared the state’s smoking ban unconstitutional.

The Judge said the ban did not allow bar owners an opportunity to establish their businesses as cigar bars, which are exempt from the ban.

Although a federal judge said the state has the right to decide where smoking is and isn’t allowed, and this recent ruling said the ban was not clear on what it takes to qualify for the cigar-bar exemption.
The D.A. said the contradictory rulings may force the state Supreme Court to step in.

Apparently there’s a group of business owners that have banned together to fight the ban.
Calling themselves The Coalition for Equal Rights … StogieCast.com wishes them luck.

(Source: AP, Summit Daily News)

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Oh No! - Indiana considers statewide smoking ban!

My own state has been drinking the no smoking Kool-Aid.

The Indiana House has approved legislation that would establish a statewide ban on most indoor smoking.
The bill passed… but on an unrecorded vote.
Cowards!

It was attached as an amendment to a major health care bill that may eventually include a cigarette tax.
It would prohibit smoking in enclosed public places, sports arenas and indoor places of employment.

Thankfully it would not apply to retail tobacco stores, bars, public areas leased for private functions or a business that has no employee other than the owner.

Still it’s a precedent I’d rather not set.

The bill is eligible for passage in the House tomorrow and according to the news is likely headed to a joint House-Senate conference committee where compromises will be sought.

Wish me and my fellow Hoosiers luck as we try to avoid this slippery slope.

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Iowa Cigar Tax makes my eyes hurt

So talk about making things more complex than they need to be…
The current cigar tax situation in Iowa is dizzying.

The current state tax on cigars is 22 percent.
The more expensive the cigar… the higher the tax.

This week the Iowa House will debate a bill that would change that.
While it would raise the state cigarette tax by a dollar per pack, it could actually lower the state tax cigars.

Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, is supporting the change.

Makes sense.

He goes on to say that if the proposal becomes law, the state tax will more than double on a cigar that costs a dollar. But for expensive cigars, it could go down to just 50 cents.

While I don’t like the idea of making value cigars less a value… the concept does seem to be more fair than the attitude being taken by Senator Nancy Boettger, a Republican from Harlan.

She is quoted as saying:

Oh really,
How completely ridiculous.
So anyone that can pay 200 dollars for a purse on Michigan Ave. in Chicago could easily pay 350 for it?
I don’t think so.
My wife has one of those 200 dollars purses.
Let me tell you it was a big deal. Lots of thought went into it and it was a special purchase for her.
I had to tell her all day that it was “ok” and she deserved a nice “fun buy” every now and then.
An extra $150 would have sent my wife home without that special purchase.

Meanwhile our friend Senator McCoy (who is obviously ALSO not well experienced with cigars) suggests many Iowa cigar smokers are going on-line to buy their stogies because the state tax is so high.

No kidding??
You think??

Iowa smokers… does your head hurt trying to listen to all of this?

Source: Radio Iowa News

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Cigar victory in Philadelphia

Cigar Aficionado reports that Philadelphia’s “Blunts Bill” has been over turned.

The ordinance:

• banned the sale of flavored cigars
• banned the sale of ALL cigars within 500 feet of a
• school
• recreation center
• day-care center
• church or community center
• And banned the sale of individual cigars except in specialty cigar stores, hotels and restaurants

All because some punks were apparently buying the gas station cigars called “blunts” and using them for drugs. They would take the large cigar wrappers and use them to wrap up… something else.

Punks.

But no worries as the law has been put down.
So smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em in the city of brotherly love.

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Danvers Massachusetts smoking law hurts local cigar shop

Well I’ve been following the Cigars R Us case in Danvers, MA.
I won’t recap the whole thing here but see the “Related Posts” listed at the end of this post if you’d like to get caught up.

Recently the shop was denied a variance that would allow so degree of smoking in, or around, the establishment.
This is truly sad.

It seems the shop’s only real course of action now is to apply for a food service permit from the town so that they can be classified a cigar bar. THEN they could allow smoking… as long as revenue from the food and drink doesn’t exceed 49 percent of total revenue.

In the Danvers Herald article Mark Carleo the public health inspector was quoted as saying:

No but I’m sure they are working on that.
This is truly ridiculous. I’ve looked around for a web site or email address for the shop but came up with nothing.
I just feel like they should know people ARE on their side.
Perhaps an Internet PR blitz would at least put some pressure on the community there to stop being SO absurd that it threatens a man’s business.

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Montana Senate to hold hearing on prohibiting the sale of cigars.

On Friday Feb 16th, 2007 the Montana Senate will conduct a Legislative Hearing on bill SB336 wich would prohibit sale of flavored cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco

The chief sponsor of this bill is Gregg Lind.
You can contact him HERE.

More information on the bill can be found here.

If you are in Montana you may want to attend this hearing and make your voice heard.

Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety, Room 317AAAA, 3 p.m.
Again that’s on Feb 16th, 2007

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