Posted on 12/09/2008 9:18:08 AM PST by warsaw44
Boston health board may stamp out cigar bars By Christine McConville Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - Added 3h ago
E-mail Printable (25) Comments Text size Share (3) Rate In the cozy confines of a former speakeasy in Boston’s North End, men and women gather nightly to sip cognac and savor a cigar.
But these days, Stanza dei Sigari, the cigar lovers’ respite on Hanover Street, isn’t so relaxed.
On Thursday, the Boston Public Health Commission will vote on a tough smoking ban that could put this cigar bar, and others like it, out of business.
“I think it’s kind of unconstitutional, telling people not to smoke in a controlled environment,” said Linda Riccio, one of the owners of the dark-paneled saloon.
“Where will it end?” she asked. “Are they going to tell people they can’t smoke on the streets?”
The city’s health officials may expand Boston’s ban on workplace smoking by prohibiting smoking in cigar and hookah bars, on restaurant patios and loading docks.
The proposed rules seek to ban tobacco sales on college campuses and in drug stores, too.
While critics say the move goes too far, Roger Swartz, director of the health commission’s community initiatives bureau, said the new rules are intended to protect people from the ills of tobacco, in all its forms.
The proposal has sparked an outcry among cigar aficionados.
Since September, when the health commission gave preliminary approval to the new regulations, the commission has received hundreds of complaints.
Most are protesting the proposed smoking ban in cigar bars, health commission spokeswoman Ann Scales said.
To Riccio and other supporters, this ban would unnecessarily limit a beloved adult activity.
Riccio’s clients include businessmen, doctors and guys from the neighborhood.
“They come here to smoke, and they know what they are doing,” she said.
This should be treated like the Supreme Court treats serious complaints of unconstitutional acts.
They don’t listen to your complaint if they don’t consider you have yet been harmed by the act.
Good. Tobacco is EVIL.
Why should cigar smokers get a break when we have enforce health ordnances on all other bars and nightclubs.
Never mind the pivotal role of tabak in the founding of America and Jamestown and it’s depiction on the foundation stone of the US Capitol.
Shut ‘em down. Good for Boston.
Marry a Fag, don’t smoke one.
Inshallah.
XCommon mistake that people make is to assume this has to do with the emotion of happiness. Pursuit, according to the founding fathers, was occupation -- ie the government could not force anyone into a job they did not like. Most people interpret this erroneously to be hedonism.
It is madness. More 'let them eat cake' leftie elitism. I'm guessing if Teddy and Kerry and Bahney want to enjoy a fine cigar with their scotch, they simply go to their favorite place and have at it, this proposed law will affect them little, there'll be some loophole for them. And the little people - they can just quit smoking. And when they lose that tax revenue from the bars, they'll just raise the taxes for everyone else.
“California air-quality regulators declared secondhand smoke a toxic air pollutant earlier this year.”
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California....tumbles into the sea.....
-Steely Dan
My Old School
Meanwhile, down on Tremont Street, teams of engineers are trying to figure out how to generate clean electricity from the rapid spinning of Sam Adams body.
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