Well, the smoke nazis have found their way to Fresno. My favorite cigar hideaway "Club Habanos" had to bow to the pressure of local politics. They can no longer have alcohol and cigars in the same room. So the bar part of the store (90%) is non-smoking. The cigar store front is the only herf spot left.

They still have an excellent A.Fuente selection but the atmosphere is no longer what it was. I went by today to pay my respects and smoke a cigar. I had a Grey Goose martini and a short story (30 feet from my martini...several trips) and bid my farewell to the good old days.

Cannot sell alcohol and cigars in the same room??

Then again, there are no cigar stores around me.

heh heh.

Next you won't be able to smoke in a cigar shop or your own home.

I was reading a while back where some town wanted to pass an ordinance that you couldn't smoke outdoors.

Ok, nobody breathe.

Just another example of people wanting to pass laws to protect us from ourselves. In Oregon, the seatbelt law passed with a 40% vote voting for it. Yep, that's a democracy for you. LOL!

help me out here, this is America, right? Why in the F should it matter if they're serving cigars and drinks in the same place? CALIFORNICATORS!!!! SUCK.... Sorry, I'm sure there are a few good ones, it just seems like the country is slanted and all the kooks roll to the west coast...

Here in Wa the taxes are so high on cigars the state hurts it self because everybody now buy on line, except for an occasional single here or there.

Sounds like the same thing there, one cann't go out for a smoke and a drink or steak, and enjoy oneself.

It just sounds like they don't want our tax dollars!

I heard Cal. has some buget problems.

Well I hope Aaaaarnold runs for office.

Oh well I'm just about ready to buy more gars on line FU Wa taxes, thanks Cbid!

J

Here in Wa the taxes are so high on cigars the state hurts it self because everybody now buy on line, except for an occasional single here or there.

Sounds like the same thing there, one cann't go out for a smoke and a drink or steak, and enjoy oneself.

It just sounds like they don't want our tax dollars!

I heard Cal. has some buget problems.

Well I hope Aaaaarnold runs for office.

Oh well I'm just about ready to buy more gars on line FU Wa taxes, thanks Cbid!

J

johnfs ... where in WA are you? ... I've not been up that way in a while, but last time I was in Seattle, I went to Ray's Boathouse where there is a pretty decent cigar room ... or is that gone now, do you know ??

One of the many great things about Germany is that I can light up a gar in a bar, walking down the street, in the yard, in my house. Where ever I chose. I refrain from lighting up in restaurants because I choose not to but other than that I can smoke just about anywhere. As a matter of fact, I asked for a smoking room in the Hospital...

Regards,

B

Here in Arkansas,

I can smoke anywhere I want, that the buisness owner does'nt mind. What a novel concept, let the buisness owner decide whether or not to allow smoking, in the establishment, and let the market decide wheather or not he keeps it that way. One of my favorite little coffee shops, banned smoking, catering to the nonsmokers. I quit frequenting the place, as many of my friends did. I got a call, from the owner, telling me that he allowed smoking again. I went in yesterday for coffee and a cigar. He told me that the people, who wanted a smoke free coffee shop, didn't give him as much buisness, as the smokers. He said, relying on nonsmokers would have put him out of buisness. Along with 9 more emplyees out of work, in this economy. I smoked a PAM with my double espresso to celebrate.

Later

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

Tolerance.

I like shorter ants. X

I talked to the co-owner of Club Habanos. She said the only way around the California smoking ordinances is to take on each employee as a shareholder or co-owner and pay them by profit percentages...no tips.

They are taking it under consideration but the employees would have to provide their own health care and pay into social security and disability as if they were business owners by themselves. That way they avoid having to fall under Cal-OSHA regulations by not being "employees". And they would be exempt from work-place smoking regulations. What sucks is that everyone who works there either smokes (something) or accepts the fact that they are working in a smoking environment.

I would think it would be a whole lot easier if they just had a contract indicating they know of the evils of smoking and the "hazards" of working in a smoking environment and they are willing to take the risk, holding neither the company, state or tobacco industry liable if they cough up a lung one day.

It is extremely hard to do. Sorry to see a great place go the way of the smoke nazis. There is another way out of the smoke regulations for a cigar bar. Have an open air place where the drinks and smoking are allowed as well as an indoor safe haven from the smokers. There are still a few places like that left, but it makes it hard on stormy days. But those are few and far between...here.