The Hastings, Minn. City Council is scheduled to vote Monday night on a proposal to prohibit smoking in all tobacco shops, though it would maintain an allowance for the use of electronic cigarettes.
This would be a departure from Minnesota state law, which currently allows for smoking inside of tobacco shops for the specific purpose of sampling products. However, the Minnesota Department of Health has determined that the sampling provision does not allow for smoking lounges. There is however a provision allowing smoking in private places, which includes private clubs. Before the vote, the council will hear public comment from those wishing to voice their feelings on the issue.
The city of Hastings is located about 30 miles southeast of Minneapolis and has just over 22,000 residents. While there are no IPCPR member cigar shops in the city, it is home to a shop called Hastings Tobacco, which sells an assortment of tobacco products, including cigars. Ibrahim Aqel of Hastings Tobacco was the only person to comment when the proposal was sent to tobacco stores in the city, with his comments stating that banning e-cigarette sampling would hurt his business. When he was assured that e-cigarette sampling would not be banned, he indicated he had no other objections to the proposal.