Pennsylvania Bill Would Ban Smoking in Cigar Shops, Bars & Casinos

A new bill introduced in Pennsylvania would ban smoking in cigar shops, cigar bars, private clubs, casinos and a variety of other places.

H.B. 1657 would modify Pennsylvania’s existing Clean Indoor Air Act by removing a variety of existing exemptions that allow for smoking in/at:

• Lodging Establishments, i.e. hotels
• Tobacco shops
• Workplaces of tobacco manufacturers, importers or wholesalers
• Designated smoking areas of residential care and health facilities
• Private clubs
• Exhibition halls, conference rooms, catering halls or similar facilities hosting events used exclusively for sampling tobacco products
• Cigar bars
• Drinking establishments
• Casino floors
• Designated smoking areas of outdoor sports or recreational facilities

The bill leaves just one of the existing 12 exemptions in place: one that allows for people to smoke inside of their own homes.

In addition, the bill would also remove a preemption clause that prevents local governments from enacting stricter smoking laws than the state laws. A preemption clause has already been successful at stymying other anti-tobacco laws in Pennsylvania. A few years ago, Philadelphia tried banning the sale of flavored tobacco products but was unable to enforce the law due to a preemption clause that barred the city from enacting a stricter law than the one used by the state.

Pennsylvania is one of three states—along with the District of Columbia—that has no added tax for the sale of cigars. Because of this and its location in the northeast, the state is one of the most important when it comes to the premium cigar industry. Some of the industry’s largest retailers—Cigars International, Famous Smoke Shop, Holt’s, Atlantic Cigar Co., Best Cigar Prices, Cigar Page—are all based in Pennsylvania.

Currently, H.B. 1657 has 24 co-sponsors, 23 Democrats and one Republican. If passed, the bill would take effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

The Premium Cigar Association has encouraged its members to contact local representatives ahead of a House Health Committee hearing that takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2023.

Update (Sept. 20, 2023) — The Cigar Association has issued the following comment: