Stogie Guys Friday Sampler No. 367
24 Jan 2014
As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.
1) Pennsylvania has had a statewide smoking ban dating back to 2008, originally signed into law by Ed Rendell, who was governor at the time. In its current state, the ban provides a few exemptions, most notably for bars where minors are not permitted and where 20% or less of revenue is from food. However, State Senator Stewart Greenleaf (pictured) and State Representative Mario Scavello are hoping to make it even more difficult to enjoy a cigar. They have introduced measures that would render Pennsylvania one of the toughest places to light up by extending the current ban to private clubs, bars, gaming floors, and outdoor patios of bars or restaurants. This is a bold move for a state that’s home to major retailers like Famous Smoke Shop, Holt’s, and Cigars International.
2) In last month’s “Question of the Month†(which admittedly ran significantly longer than a month), we asked readers how many cigars they are currently aging or storing. “Fewer than 25†was the most popular answer with about 24% of the vote, followed by the 26-50 range (19%), 50-100 (18%), 100-200 (15%), 200-500 (13%), and more than 500 (11%). About 2,500 unique visitors participated in the poll. We’re not sure if it’s more surprising that about a quarter of our readers are only aging/storing 25 cigars or less, or that 11% of readers have a collection of more than 500. Please feel free to weigh in on this in the comments below, and you can also contact us if you’ve got suggestion for a future poll. A new “Question of the Month†is open for voting in the sidebar on the right.
3) Inside the Industry: The Nashville Scene gives us an update on what CAO founder Cano Ozgener is up to these days. During the Nicaraguan cigar festival this week, Drew Estate officially unveiled its new, massive, pre-industry building where it stores, ages, and sorts tobacco before rolling it into cigars.
4) Deal of the Week: The clearance section of Smoke Inn currently has some deals worth checking out. Of particular note are boxes of Añoranzas, El Tiante Habano Oscuro, and La Dueña Petit Belicoso, each for under $90 per box.
photo credit: Pennsylvania State Senate
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Unfortunately, the mommy law, hypocrite politician ban stories continue. In contrast, I found the following story truly refreshing: http://santee.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elect…
Dave, thanks for providing this link. Everyone should check out this story. Great pic of the mayor.
The PA ban proposal is old news, They introduced it last summer and it has gone nowhere. It may happen eventually, but not right now.
But according to this story from June, http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/0… the sponsors have been promised that the bill will get a committee vote, a step further than previous attempts.
I saw that story at the time. It has been months in a year-round legislature. Promises are fluid in politics, and I would not be surprised if Greenleaf or the other lawmaker misinterpreted the committee chairman's statement.
Either way, I am still highly doubtful the bill becomes law and skeptical it even gets to the floor in both chambers, let alone taken up.
If it does, I predict most of the exemptions would remain, and Greenleaf would end up pulling his own bill.
Here's from a more recent story about the PA ban. Like I said, the bill probably isn;t going anywhere this term (thankfully):
Greenleaf hasn’t heard that his bill is likely to be brought up for discussion anytime soon, blaming special-interest groups representing the tobacco industry and casinos for making the concept politically unpopular.
http://www.theintell.com/news/state/pa/bills-woul…
Glad to hear it. Thanks for keeping everyone informed.