Cigar lounges and cigarette smoking are often objects of scrutiny for health advocates. However, the weight of criticism is not worthy of too much thought. Just look up your state laws and check if cigar bars or lounges can operate. If not, that doesn’t mean you can’t find one in another state.
There are no federal state laws banning smoking in public or enclosed spaces, so the issue has become more compliant with state laws and local laws which define smoking areas.
Generally, the reason is that smoking prohibitions make indoor spaces healthier by stopping secondhand smoke from hurting the well-being of non-smokers. For cigar lounges, though, indoor smoking is a different scenario for avid smokers to begin with, even at home or at work.
For some states, this idea is lost, but for others, more freedom is allowed to enjoy smoking in a smokers-only location. So, exemptions are applied in certain states because the law is always full of nuances.
Here are the states that allow or do not allow smoking in cigar lounges.
States with Cigar Lounge Bans
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
There are exceptions to state bans. For example, in New York, there are exceptions to the state law and a legal loophole for cigar lounges. So be sure to check with local laws as well. If you are a patron looking to drop by, check with the locals or a friend familiar with state laws.
If I google New York cigar lounges now, there are many results that will appear. This is the case with Oregon, as well as in the other states listed above.
So, to be sure, make a local search on Google and ensure that the local health office authorizes the bar that catches your fancy. You can also make a call to your local cigar shop to confirm.
For example, in Alaska, there is an option for the villages to enact local laws that exempt them from the state ban.
For New Hampshire, the reverse works more conveniently. New Hampshire law prevents local governments from enacting smoking bans. You can’t just smoke anywhere, though, because smoking in schools, bars, and common public areas is not allowed. Cigar lounges are legal in New Hampshire, but a cigar bar has to meet four criteria defined by law to operate under the law.
States Without a Cigar Lounge Ban
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
A Cigar Experience
Some brands like Davidoff prefer to have a cigar lounge for their members. It has lounges in Arizona, Texas, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Illinois. These lounges offer premium memberships or day passes. It’s a way to attract the loyalty of its customers.
For others, there are brand-neutral cigar lounges. Some of the most well known are below:
- CIGAR MASTERS – BOSTON, MA
- MACANUDO CLUB – NEW YORK, NY
- CASA DE MONTECRISTO – CHICAGO, IL
- GRAND HAVANA ROOM – BEVERLY HILLS, CA
- OZIO LOUNGE – WASHINGTON, DC
Before dropping by, make sure to check the relevant prices, too. If you want a premium location, the ones listed above usually offer more amenities than the usual lounge, complete with luxury offerings and premium cigars.
So, yes, cigar lounges are legal. The main thing is that they try their best to comply with state and local laws.
