Tuesday, February 17 2009
EDITORIAL:
Union Leader (NH)
Smokers in New Hampshire might get a reprieve from their banishment into the cold winter nights.
Two years ago, the Legislature created little huddles of smokers outside nightclubs and bars when it banned smoking in those establishments and restaurants. This year those smokers might be allowed to drink and socialize indoors.
House Bill 392, up for a vote in the House today, would allow cigar bars to obtain state liquor licenses. Currently, if you want to smoke and socialize at a bar-type establishment, you can go hang out at one of the state's growing number of cigar shops. But the shops cannot sell you a drink.
HB 392 would allow these cigar shops, often called cigar bars, to sell drinks to their customers. In short, it does two years later what legislators who wanted a smoking ban should have done in the first place -- leave smokers a few places of their own.
Smokes and drinks: Bring cigar bars back continues...
