Washington, Mo. City Council Approves Smoking Ban Exemption for Cigar Bars

Should you find yourself in the mood for a cigar in Washington, Mo., you will soon be able to light up in a cigar bar, as on Monday, the city council approved an exemption to the city’s Smoke Free Air Act that will allow for cigar bars and lounges.

In order to allow smoking, a business must have a permit to sell alcoholic beverages and must generate at least 25 percent of its quarterly gross revenue from the sale of cigars and/or the rental of humidor space. It also must have a humidor and an air ventilation system that prevents smoke from infiltrating areas where smoking is otherwise prohibited. Additionally, minors must be prohibited from entering the smoking area.

The exemption goes into effect immediately and is the first exemption to the smoking ban since it was passed in 2013. It passed by a 6-1 vote with one member not voting due to absence.

Washington is home to approximately 15,000 residents and is located about 50 miles west of St. Louis.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.