Premium cigar store owners warn of bad fallout from smoking bans
Gerard Ezvan
Banning smoking in indoor public places would hurt the economy, owners of premium cigar stores say.
“The only thing a smoking ban would do is lead the way in increased unemployment…(and) failing businesses,” Chris McCalla, legislative director of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association, said in a statement today.
St. Louis County Councilwoman Barbara Fraser, D-University City, has proposed a countywide vote on Nov. 3 on a smoking ban in indoor public places in the entire county. A bill for the election is on the preliminary approval segment of the agenda for next Tuesday’s council meeting.
She said her effort is to provide clean air to residents. “Second-hand smoke is a detriment to health,” she said. Whether the county will get a smoking ban would be up to the people, she said.
Gerard Ezvan, owner of Jon’s Pipe Shop in downtown Clayton and an association member, said a ban would reduce the number of customers to stores like his and eating and drinking establishments that now allow smoking. The change would lead to the consequences that McCalla mentioned, he said.
Some customers want to relax with a good drink and cigar, Ezvan said. They will come less often to his store if they can’t smoke in eating and drinking establishments, he said.
McCalla said nearly 40 of his association’s more than 2,000 members operate businesses in Missouri.
Am I the only one that doesn’t see fewer smokers, especially cigar & pipe smokers, as not a problem?
Wow - I actually beat Bill Hannegan to the comment section. Will miracles never cease?
No, Wino, you’re not the only one. The world is full of blue-noses, nannies, do-gooders, etc. It appears that you’re of them.
What happened to letting owners decide if they want to let people smoke in their establishments? Then people could decide if the want to patronize these places? Oh I forgot, politicians think we are too dumb to make our own decisions.
A 60 second ad written and recorded by Pastor Harold Hendrick and paid for by Keep St. Louis Free will run continuously on Christian radio starting Monday. We might run it on KMOX as well. The ad attacks the unfairness of the casino exemption to Barbara Fraser’s smoking ban and asks listeners to contact the County Council in protest.
http://keepstlouisfree.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-radio-ad-against-casino-exemption.html
And in just how many spaces, restaurants, etc. currently allow cigar and pipe smoking — outside of one’s own home or car?
IF WE HURRY, WE CAN BAN SMOKING BEFORE EVERYONE QUITS. WHAT IS UP WITH NEW LAWS FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS ON ITS WAY OUT THE DOOR ALREADY. MOST PLACES ARE NON-SMOKING NOW, AND MORE EVERY DAY.
“Gerard Ezvan, owner of Jon’s Pipe Shop in downtown Clayton and an association member, said a ban would reduce the number of customers to stores like his and eating and drinking establishments that now allow smoking.”
You might say that Mr. Ezvan is in a “dying” business.
Martin Pion, President, Missouri GASP
http://mogasp.wordpress.com/
people need to realize one thing
you CAN still smoke in your own home your own car, etc.
this has been LONG LONG overdue, I enjoy being able to go out to a restaurant and NOT be sickened by the smell of smoke, ESPECIALLY the foul order of cigar smoke
so if you don’t like the fact that you wont be able to go out and stink up public places, the choice is obvious STAY HOME!!!!!!
Can someone tell me why it is so important to ban smoking from a smoke shop? There are cigar stores you go in and smoke a stogie and enjoy the company. Now why should this be banned? I know you elitist look down your nose at smoking are sure to have a brilliant answer.