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Legislature Plans Lift of Tobacco Ban
There’s a new plan at the Wisconsin Capitol that would allow more people to smoke more cigars at more cigar bars.
State Representatives Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing, and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D-Milwaukee, along with Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, on Friday submitted legislation that would tweak the rules for cigar bars.
“These establishments provide a space for individuals to enjoy cigars and pipe tobacco in a regulated environment. However, due to restrictive language in legislation from the late 2000’s, no new licenses have been issued since June 3, 2009,” the lawmakers said in their co-sponsorship memo. “[This plan] seeks to change this by allowing more of these businesses to open through the issuance of more licenses to meet the increasing demand across the state.”
Wisconsin lawmakers banned smoking in bars and restaurants in 2009, though the law didn’t take effect til 2010. That law had, essentially, a grandfather exemption for existing cigar lounges.
The lawmakers want to allow newer cigar lounges to enjoy the same exemption.
“This bill in no way weakens the smoking ban. It simply strikes a balance between protecting public health and respecting the autonomy of businesses and individual freedoms,” the lawmakers added. “In short, this pro-business legislation is common sense, allowing for growth while preserving public health standards and supporting the cultural role cigar lounges play in their communities.”
Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau explained that the legislation simply changes the date for a smoking exemption, and doesn't change which bar would be considered a cigar lounge.
"Current law defines a 'tobacco bar' as a tavern that generates 15 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the tavern premises, other than from a vending machine, of cigars and pipe tobacco," the LRB said in the lawmakers' memo.
The lawmakers say the deadline for co-sponsor is April 10th. After that the plan would have to go through the statehouse process.
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