Tuesday evening, City Councilors Joe Lopes, Steve Martins and Henry Bousquet of the Committee on Ordinances and the Board of Health will meet to explore the possibilities of placing three tobacco and herbal vapor Hookah Bar establishments under the Smoke-Free Workplace Law.
The law is primarily intended to protect workers from health hazards resulting from exposure to secondhand smoke.

However, there are exemptions to the law where smoking may be permitted if certain conditions are met:
private clubs, guest rooms in hotels, motels, or similar accommodations that have been designated as “smoking” rooms, and retail tobacco stores that prohibit entry to anyone under the age of 18.

Fall River and Providence establishments offer the pleasure of cigar smoking to customers who seek it out and councilors in New Bedford are going to see if the city can be added to the list.

As it stands right now, there's no official policy to license and establish Cigar Bars in the Whaling City. In fact, there are very few advocates fighting to protect the individual rights to enjoy premium cigars! Over the past twenty years, the anti-tobacco movement’s reach has broadened, and your ability to enjoy premium cigars and freely participate in a relaxing, social activity has been continually regulated and restricted.

48 states have enacted cigar taxes, with rates of up to 75% in some states!
And all 50 states have some form of smoking ban and more restrictive legislation.

It will be interesting to see what kind of support or opposition tonight's meeting generates.

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