Senate Panel Approves Ban On Cigar Bars

Publication Date: 2007-05-01

• Publication:cbs4denver.com, CO

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved and sent to the full Senate Tuesday a bill that would outlaw cigar bars.

Lawmakers said they fear traditional bars are calling themselves cigar bars to take advantage of an exemption in the statewide smoking ban.

The committee backed a proposal (Senate Bill 250) to close the loophole for bars that get 5 percent of their income from selling tobacco.

The smoking ban currently has three big exemptions -- casinos, cigar bars and the smoking lounge at Denver International Airport.