http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/dining.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/51c97ae4-53e5-11e1-9eac-00144feabdc0.html http://tobacco.org/news/333638.html A club of Middle Eastern investors plans to cash in on disgruntlement felt by many smokers about being forced outside to enjoy their habit by opening the UK’s first hotel built around smoking culture. Arab Investments, the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti-backed group behind plans to build the City of London’s tallest skyscraper, hopes the £36m hotel, which will be among the most expensive in the country, will offer smokers an oasis from the ban that has forced them out of most buildings since 2007. The 36-room hotel, which sits on Knightsbridge, south of Hyde Park and close to Buckingham Palace, will include separate cigar and cigarette smoking terraces and the world’s largest hotel-based humidor. “Smokers have been pushed around by everybody since the ban came in and, basically, they have to go outside if they want to smoke,” said Khalid Affara, chief executive of Arab Investments. . . . However, smokers wanting to enjoy a night at the hotel, which will be called the Wellesley, will have to pay a lot for the pleasure. The 36 rooms, designed to be a blend of traditional hotel accommodation and upmarket concierge-serviced residences, range from £350 to £12,000 a night for the larger four-bed suites. Financial Times UK Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x392614169/Letter-Smoke-free-law-under-attack http://tobacco.org/news/333633.html Once again, the health of Illinois citizens is under attack by an effort to weaken the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. Rep. Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights recently introduced a bill to allow businesses to buy smoking licenses from local liquor control commissioners. Another bill would allow bars, strip clubs and other establishments, for a fee, to apply for smoking licenses, provided they installed filtration systems for the air. According to the American Cancer Society, "This bill is a potential setback for the health and well-being of the people of Illinois. If adopted, residents throughout the state will be denied the life-saving, public health protections of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act."? The ACS firmly believes that everyone deserves the right to breathe clean air, free of the cancer-causing poisons known to exist in secondhand smoke. . . . Illinois workers' desire to work in a smoke-free environment and to shop, eat out and breathe clean air doesn't matter to DeLuca. We must put a stop to this and not allow Illinois lawmakers to put their special interests above our health. State Journal-Register Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2012/02/how-are-hookah-bars-still-legal.html http://tobacco.org/news/333627.html Are hookah bars legal? That's the real question you should be asking, as the law treats hookah smoking and cigarette smoking the same, as they are both tobacco products regulated by the same statutes. As cigarette smoking decreases, hookah use seems to be rising, particularly amongst the younger generations, possibly contributing to the perception that hookah bars are legal while cigarette smoking is not. This is actually not the case, as many hookah bars operate illegally. The reason for this is the state of smoking laws across the country. Smoking bans operate on a city, county and state level, prohibiting tobacco smoking in workplaces, with minor exceptions. In jurisdictions with such bans, hookah bars must fit into these exceptions in order to operate legally. . . . Now that you know the facts, keep in mind the following: Hookah bars, legal or not, pose the same risks as establishments where cigarette smoking is permitted. FindLaw blogs Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.pinedaleroundup.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=2354 http://tobacco.org/news/333606.html Stockman's Bar and Grill instituted a smoke-free policy in its bar area starting on Feb. 1. "It was time to create a healthier environment for our customers, both current and in the future," Stockman's representative Barbara Walker said. Walker also said there is a niche market in Pinedale for a smoke-free environment. Pinedale Roundup Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=601202 http://tobacco.org/news/333603.html Not even a year since Springfield voters approved the smoking ban, the process is in motion to let voters rethink that issue. People who disagree with that ban turned in more than 4,000 signatures to the city Thursday to try and change it. Live Free Springfield needs 2,100 certified signatures to get the issue before voters again, but the group brought in plenty extra -- and hopes the extra effort will let smokers light up again. "One by one, we will look at every signature," says Assistant City Clerk Anita Cotter. She makes sure names match addresses, that signers are registered voters, and that there are no repeats. "We will do everything we can to be as fair as possible." KOLR-TV Channel 10 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/newsnow/x1341770166/Illinois-Tobacco-Free-Communities-grant-assist-in-checking-Smoke-Free-Act-compliance http://tobacco.org/news/333592.html Local government officials announced a collaborative effort to enforce the Smoke-Free Illinois Act within the community. The Peoria City/County Health Department is providing Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities Grant funds to support coordination of local law enforcement efforts to conduct Smoke-Free Act compliance checks in public places where smoking is prohibited. The Smoke-Free Illinois Act prohibits smoking in virtually all public places in order to reduce exposure to second hand smoke. Chillicothe Times-Bulletin mgillespie@timestoday.com (Anonymous) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ibj.com/ballard-to-veto-stricter-smokingban-proposal/PARAMS/article/32568 http://tobacco.org/news/333591.html Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard plans to veto a proposed ordinance that would expand the city's public smoking ban, his spokesman confirmed Thursday. The Indianapolis City-County Council on Jan. 30 voted 19-9 in favor of expanding the citywide ban to include bowling alleys, hotel rooms and most bars. Tobacco shops, hookah bars and over-18 private clubs would be exempted. "As the Mayor has said since since it passed, this proposal does not meet his requirements," communications director Marc Lotter said in an e-mail. "By law, he must return the proposal to the clerk of the City-County Council by Saturday. " Indianapolis Business Journal corrections@ibj.com ( IBJ Staff) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://beta.coastalcourier.com/section/34/article/40400/ http://tobacco.org/news/333586.html Chatham County is taking steps toward banning smoking in bars and other indoor venues not covered under state law. County commissioners are scheduled to give a first reading to a proposed smoking ban Friday. A final vote would come at a later meeting. The proposal would apply only to unincorporated areas of Chatham County. Its largest city, Savannah, enacted a similar smoking ban that took effect in January 2011. The bans go a step further than Georgia law, which prohibits indoor smoking in restaurants and other public buildings that allow children. Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120209/NEWS01/302090093/smoking-ban-petition?odyssey=nav%7Chead http://tobacco.org/news/333556.html Opponents of the indoor smoking ban voters approved in April turned in an initiative petition this morning seeking a repeal. Dave Myers, of the group Live Free Springfield, said the group gathered more than 4,000 signatures. At least 2,101 must be certified as Springfield residents for the petition to advance to City Council. "We hope that City Council will pass this and do the right thing," Myers said. "We feel that people have seen the effects of the ban ... there are a lot of concerned people." The City Clerk's Office now has 20 days to certify the signatures. Springfield News-Leader abridges@news-leader.com ( Written by Amos Bridges) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2012/02/09/cigar-bars-make-a-comeback-at-luxury-hotels/ http://tobacco.org/news/333544.html Following worldwide bans on smoking in public places, cigar bars have become something of an endangered species. But we’ve spotted a few of the clubby, usually dimly lit dens making appearances once more—this time ensconced in luxury hotels. And in some of the new iterations, they’ve got technology on their side—advanced air filtration systems make spending time in one a breath of fresh air. Here are a few of the best cigar lounges around the globe. . . . On the other side of the world, The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing’s swanky Davidoff Lounge welcomes guests nightly until 2 a.m. For those set to impress, the bar’s VIP rooms (which are equipped with everything from card tables to Wii stations and karaoke machines) are available for business meetings and private parties. Davidoff cigars from the Dominican Republic are the top choice here, but you can also puff away on hand-rolled Cubans. U.S hotels have picked up on this old-school tradition, too—Florida (given its proximity to Cuba) hosts some of the grandest smoking rooms in the nation Forbes Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wthr.com/story/16874329/whats-the-next-step-marion-county-smoking-ban http://tobacco.org/news/333530.html Saturday is the deadline for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard to approve or veto the current proposed smoking ban that covers bars, bowling alleys, hotel rooms, workplaces, and nursing homes. Many people say they agree with a ban, but are against this one. Under this proposal, private clubs would have to choose to go smoke free, or not allow children inside. Marc Lotter, a spokesman for Mayor Ballard, says the mayor believes private clubs and their membership should make the decisions on how to regulate their private clubs, and wants them to have a fair choice. "As the proposal is currently written, you'd basically be asking a club that if they wanted to be smoking, they could never have a wedding reception. They could never have a retirement party a person's grandchildren could attend. WTHR 13 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/16700221/myrtle-beach-may-not-take-to-no-smoking-ordinance http://tobacco.org/news/333486.html Some Myrtle Beach city council members say the odds are not in favor of a smoking public smoking ban in the city. Following North Myrtle Beach's vote to institute a smoking ban in public places, Myrtle Beach is now sandwiched between Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach, both of which voted for smoking bans. Some restaurant workers, like Dirty Don's Oyster Bar and Grill Manager Rebecca Utley said they wish Myrtle Beach would institute a smoking ban to alleviate confusion. "I think we should go ahead and make a law here as well so we can get in line with North Myrtle Beach and Surfside [Beach]," Utley explained. "I think it just makes things more consistent for tourists when they come down." Bodo's German Restaurant and Pub Owner Patti Gregory said she does not want Myrtle Beach to vote in a ban because she feels it encroaches on her rights. WMBF News smaginnis@wmbfnews.com (Sean Maginnis, WMBF News Anchor) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/07/3738396/smoking-ban-wouldnt-include-casinos.html http://tobacco.org/news/333473.html Those who want smoking banned in all public places in the city and those who said a smoking ban would be bad for business and personal freedom presented their arguments Tuesday to the Biloxi Council, which took no action. Councilwoman Lucy Denton, who proposed the ordinance, said it combined points from smoking bans in Gulfport and Jackson but would need to be “tweaked” to fit Biloxi. “It’s just a starting point,” she said. Biloxi casinos would be exempt from the smoking ban, she said, including their restaurants and hotels. “We just chose not to include them because that would be instant death to them,” she said. Biloxi Sun Herald meperez@sunherald.com (MARY PEREZ) Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/lower_capemay/cape-may-rejects-smoking-ban-on-public-beaches-after-opposition/article_4ddcaefc-51eb-11e1-a328-0019bb2963f4.html http://tobacco.org/news/333472.html City Council rejected a smoking ban on public beaches Tuesday but did agree to set up a committee to look into the idea for the 2013 season. A 2-2 council vote in November killed an earlier proposal to ban smoking on beaches, public parks and the oceanfront Promenade. Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman on Tuesday proposed just banning smoking on the beaches. This had been his original proposal last year, but other members of council expanded the ban before it came to a vote. That proposal came under strong attack from the business community amid concerns it would hurt the tourism industry. President John Cooke of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May said it could hurt the Canadian tourist trade. “My main concern is litter on the beach and smoke on the beach. John Cooke was afraid it may offend the Canadians. I’ve since found out 17 percent of the Canadians smoke compared with 21 percent in the U.S.,” Wichterman said. The Press of Atlantic City RDegener@pressofac.com (RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2012/02/05/99248694/index.xml http://tobacco.org/news/333464.html Five years later, there is a chance establishments such as Hill's Tap could pull out the ash trays again. State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, has introduced legislation in Springfield that would give municipalities a choice as to whether or not they want to offer smoking licenses for bars, casinos, veteran posts and adult entertainment clubs. Similar measures have failed in the past and support could be lacking; even the once-reluctant Hill sees little need to bring smoking back into bars. "I kind of like the clean air ... most people have gotten used to it," Hill said. "I don't know if it's been good or bad for business. Nobody has money anyway." DeLuca said he is not trying to circumvent the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, but give power back to local government. To prevent widespread exemptions, DeLuca included strict requirements for an organization to be eligible. For a bar to receive a license, it must prove less than 10 percent of revenue comes from food sales. DeKalb Daily Chronicle jengelhardt@shawmedia.com (JEFF ENGELHARDT) Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT