Cigar Social Network
How have smoking bans affected you?
The great billowing cloud (or lack thereof) of statewide smoking bans is decending on the great state of Wisconsin and is slated to arrive on July 5th.
Personally, I don't know how I'm going to cope. I absolutely despise cold weather and usually have 2-3 cigars when I go out to the bars. I suppose I am going to have to convert my garage to a tropical temperature smoking lounge in the winter equipped with a full bar.
I know there is great debate in this forum about whether you like the idea of smoking bands, dislike it, could care less, blah blah blah. I'm more curious about what you folks in cold weather states do to enjoy a fine cigar flavored smokestick when the temperature plummets. Garage? Stand outside at bars? Migrate South for the winter?
P.S. This post officially ends my temporary hiatus from SC. I got married in August and it turns out that having a wife is a lot of work...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charming Karl, Cookie King on -
Good luck, Joe! Hopefully having a wife is also a wonderful thing for you!
As for adapting to smoking bans, I wouldn't say that NY is a "cold weather state" but we did have a brutal winter. Luckily our anti-smoking laws allow exemptions for establishments that apply for a license to be a cigar bar/lounge. So we have a handful of such places, and that's where I smoke my cigars over the winter.
I personally don't like smoking outside, so I can't see myself stepping out to smoke a cigar. But if we didn't have cigar bars, I guess that's what I would have to do...
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Permalink Reply by Joe Osterberg on -
It is absolutely rewarding! Thanks!
I am originally from MN and when they instated the smoking ban there you could still smoke in cigar lounges and shops as long as a certain percentage of their sales were from tobacco. You could not drink there also though (even though many store owners are pretty lax about you bringing in a flask of scotch with you!)
One thing that I found pretty funny was and experience I had in MN last summer. Some friends and I went to The Golden Leaf in St. Paul and they had cigars and a "bar." I was really confused as to how they got away with it. It turns out that they found a loophole in which they hire a company to cater to their shop that serves alcohol. Since this is a seperate business, it worked out to be legal! They only do this on the weekend when they have a crowd, but I found it pretty genius/comical.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Osterberg on
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I didn't even think of smoking bans contributing to the rise of specialty cigar shops, that's a good point.
"I would much rather enjoy my cigars in the company of other cigar smokers than to be sitting in a bar or restaurant next to someone who doesn't enjoy my cigar and complains about the smell. "
I agree with you, but there is a sadistic pleasure that I get from people getting mad at me for smoking a cigar around them.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Osterberg on
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mmk and I have an underground network of cigar terrorists.
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Permalink Reply by Charming Karl, Cookie King on
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I have to agree - with a smaller number of places to smoke cigars in, the camraderie factor goes up astronomically. Whereas before you would have no idea where you'd run into fellow cigar smokers, and if you did go to a bar and pull out a cigar, you'd get either dirty looks or people wanting to ask all kinds of questions. And you'd also get places choked to the gills with cigarette smoke who would have the gaul to say, "sorry sir, but you can't smoke that here!"
So for me, while I admit it sucks to have to travel to be able to smoke, etc., the way things are now is vastly superior to the situation before, at least in NYC.
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Permalink Reply by Brian D. on
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Am now crossing the Ohio River to smoke-friendly Kentucky much more often, to spend my meager entertainment dollars, as well as light up without hassle.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Osterberg on
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Congrats on your son's acceptance! I've never been there, but I've heard great things.
Wisconsin might be Chicago's playground, but Chicago is Wisconsin's parking lot. Every time I've been through Chicago traffic has been so bad that my travel humi self destructs into my mouth! It's no wonder that you find time to smoke your behemoth stash of cigars out there.
My wife used to live in Lake Forest with her rich ex-boyfriend. At least I know that she's not with me for my money...
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Permalink Reply by Bill Wyko on -
Here in Tucson, a friend of mine was smoking in his office in the business he owns. He later received a letter from the city that stated he would receive a $5000.00 dollar fine if it were reported to the city again. Someone, either one of his 4 employees or a customer had reported he was smoking and this was the results. IMNSHO, when they start paying the bills and the payroll, they can dictate what I can do in private. |It didn't happen to me but I'm just as pissed as he is. Enough of my rant, congratulations on the marrage. It wil always be a labor of love.
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Permalink Reply by James Christie on -
Be grateful that you can still smoke in cigar lounges and such. Around here they have banned smoking in all indoor places including smoke shops. We cannot smoke indoors inn any place that is a business which includes and vehicles that are owned by a company. In addition to that you are not allowed to setup any kind of 'smoking shed' outside of your business to let employees smoke in out of the weather...and it gets cold here in the winter -30 somedays. And to top it off when you so step outside for a smoke you must be 20' from any door, window or intake duct that may be on the building. Our government has totally over stepped their boundaries are far as I am concerned. What's next telling us we cannot smoke in our own homes or in our private vehicles. Cigars are a legal product just like alcohol and I don't know of anyone who has killed anyone while smoking and driving.
Rant over.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Osterberg on
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F*ck da poh-lease!
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Permalink Reply by Angie Olsen on -
What about a shed with insulation and an exhaust fan? You could make your own little "smoking lounge". You could even put a humidor on one of the walls. A big one!! I guess you would need a heater too, but it could work.
The guy who lived in our house before us was a gun smith and made a shed like this. If we didn't need it for storage I might do this myself. We live in Utah. Winter sucks!
Anyway, just a thought.
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