Washington State - legislature bills - cigar lounges/retail tobacconists..

February 18, 2011 - Two separate bills recently introduced by Washington state lawmakers would, if passed, grant cigar enthusiasts the right to once again smoke inside tobacco shops and cigar lounges.

Washington State Legislature

SB 5542 - 2011-12
Establishing special license endorsements for cigar lounges and retail tobacconist shops.

HB 1683 - 2011-12
Establishing special license endorsements for cigar lounges and retail tobacconist shops.

Washington passed a very strict smoking ban in 2005, outlawing indoor smoking in all public buildings, including restaurants, bars and even retail tobacconists. (Washington State's New Smoking Ban, Garvey Schubert Barer Legal Update, February 16, 2005)

Both of the introduced measures, Senate Bill 5542 and House Bill 1683, call for the establishment of a special state licensing program whereby businesses would apply to the State Liquor Control Board for endorsement as either a cigar lounge or retail tobacconist. These businesses would receive a license, which could be renewed each year, and in return, patrons could light up within these establishments.

No more than 100 lounges would be licensed as a cigar lounge at $15,000 per year. Up to 500 businesses, each paying a fee of $5,000 per year, could receive a retail tobacco license.

According to the language contained within the bills, 5 percent of fees would be used for administrative costs, while 95 percent of the fees collected by the state would go to government programs. The House version directs that the funds accrued from the program are to go to a scholarship program for foster youth, while the Senate version dictates that the funds are to go towards health care.

Reference: Washington Eyes Creating Smoking Licenses, Andrew Nagy, cigaraficionado.com, 2/16/2011.