Dare to Dream: Cigar lounges exempted in Alberta

[Cigar Surgeon]

It doesn't even seem real.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/cigar-lounges-exempted-in-new-smoking-and-vaping-regulations-1.6097324

Quote

 

The Alberta government has slipped an exemption that would allow cigar lounges in the province into new smoking and vaping regulations, which health advocates say set back anti-smoking legislation by more than a decade. 

The exemption, contained within an order-in-council approved by cabinet on June 23, allows cigar lounges to exist if they prohibit food, beverage and cleaning services during hours of operation and forbid minors from entering.

Lounges must also have floor-to-ceiling walls completely separate from any area they are connected to, self-closing doors, and a separate ventilation system that maintains negative air pressure and exhausts smoke outside the building. 

 

Someone definitely greased someone's palm as the exemption was slipped in during the last reading of the regulations before they were to be voted into force.

Here's the relevant section:

Quote

 

(2)  Despite section 3(d) and (e) of the Act, a person may smoke only cigars in a cigar lounge if the cigar lounge meets the following conditions:

                                 (a)    the cigar lounge is designated as a cigar lounge by the manager;

                                 (b)    the cigar lounge has floor-to-ceiling walls, a ceiling and doors that separate the lounge visually and physically from any adjacent area in which smoking is prohibited under the Act;

                                 (c)    the cigar lounge has doors equipped with a properly functioning self‑closing device;

                                 (d)    the cigar lounge is equipped with a separate ventilation system that maintains negative air pressure at all times and exhausts smoke directly to the outside of the building in which the lounge is located;

                                 (e)    minors have no access to the cigar lounge;

                                 (f)    no service, including cleaning, is allowed in the cigar lounge during the hours of operation.

 

 

[Cairo]

36 minutes ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

Someone definitely greased someone's palm

Bribery works.   My (late--can't prosecute him now) grandfather built a state contracting business by delivering suitcases of cash to state officials. 

Warning to cigar lounge owners on the care and feeding of politicians--periodic watering is required.     😀 

[LLC]

That would be great to see. Maybe it would spread our way with time.