Subscribe to Cigar Rights of America RSS feeds and get the most up-to-date cigar-related legislative news for Missouri. http://www.cigarrights.org/xml/news/news_MO.xml http://www.cigarrights.org/favicon.ico http://www.cigarrights.org/images/CRA08small.jpg en-us JAN 26 - The mayors of five adjacent cities in St. Louis County have reignited the smoking ban issue, asking the County Council to ban smoking in public places. The council rejected a ban three years ago. Whether the new effort succeeds might depend on whether the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County could enact a ban simultaneously. None of their leaders wants to go it alone and put their bars and restaurants at a disadvantage against competitors in a neighboring jurisdiction. The mayors of Clayton, Creve Coeur, Olivette, Overland and University City are behind the new effort. A letter they sent last month to the County Council and other county mayors stated: "Smoking in public places is a critical public health issue in our communities and across the entire county." Signing the document were Mayors Joseph L. Adams of University City, Jean Antoine of Olivette, Harold Dielmann of Creve Coeur, Linda Goldstein of Clayton and Mike Schneider of Overland. St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley opposed the last smoking ban ordinance. But he has "an open mind" about a ban if it covered St. Charles County and St. Louis as well as his county, Mac Scott, his spokesman, said Friday. Dooley prefers statewide action, Scott said. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/60A3C2FB4B164C8C8625754A00004A68?OpenDocument Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:34 -0800 Missouri Maryville, Mo., JAN 19 - Since having successfully gotten the Maryville Clean Indoor Air Act passed in 2003, the Citizens for Smoke Free Nodaway County have been quietly working on expanding a smoke-free ordinance. The Maryville Clean Indoor Air Act banned smoking in: restaurants; cafeterias; kitchen and dining areas associated with an educational institution; and conference rooms when meals are being catered. Teri Harr, an RN at St. Francis Hospital and Health Services, is the chair for the coalition, and said the group — while they don't have a timeline — would like to expand the ordinance to ban all workplace smoking including all offices, businesses and even bars. Teri said having a designated smoking area isn't enough — because that smoke gets into the ventilation systems and works its way through to give second-hand exposure to non-smoking employees. Jamie Baker, a community policy specialist with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and also a member of the Citizens for Smoke Free Nodaway County, voiced the same concerns as Teri, listing the effects of smoking on non-smokers. "Just an hour of sitting and breathing in somebody's side stream smoke does as much heart damage to the non-smoker as it does to the person that's smoking," Baker said. http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/news/x1898854103 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:18 -0800 Missouri FEB 26 - Smoke-Free St Louis is pushing a ban in St Louis City. Restaurants, bars and casinos are all effected by smoking bans economically. Illinois enacted a ban starting January 1st. Casinos in Illinois were down 21.4% for all of last year. They lost over $400 million in gambling revenue. Missouri in the same time frame was up 5% with St Louis area casinos up 13%. Missouri and Illinois have similar economies. There can be no doubt that smoking bans negatively affect hospitality industry revenue. http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor/2009/02/smoking-bans-are-bad-for-business/ Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:17 -0800 Missouri JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Commonwealth Brands, Inc. the fourth largest tobacco manufacturer in the United States has expressed its concern over Missouri's newly proposed statewide smoking ban. Commonwealth believes that smoking bans "infringe upon the freedoms and rights of our smokers." Missouri's existing legislation, which leaves the option of whether to ban smoking or not to the patrons and management of public premises is a perfectly workable and fair solution. In the Bill proposed by Senator Bray, smoking will be prohibited in public buildings and vehicles, bars, restaurants, and within 15 feet of any entrance to a public place or meeting. There are no exemptions envisaged for any business. Not only could a wholesale smoking ban be very costly for the state of Missouri but Commonwealth Brands, Inc. stated that, "Where bans have been enacted, the leisure and hospitality industries have witnessed a decline in employment of between 4-16%," and in the case of Missouri the effect could be even more pronounced given the current difficult economic times. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/090225/ne75342.html?.v=1 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:43 -0800 Missouri FEB 24 - Police over the weekend issued two citations for violations of the city's smoking ordinance to patrons of a downtown nightclub that has been the spot of previous violations of the two-year-old law. “They appear to be ignoring the ordinance,” Sgt. Lloyd Simons said of The Blue Fugue, 120 S. Ninth St. The Columbia/Boone County Department of Health and Human Services has received numerous citizen complaints about the business and passed them on to the Columbia Police Department, Simons said. Patrol officers over the weekend conducted walkthroughs of the business on Friday and Saturday nights, issuing one ticket each time. http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/feb/24/club-patrons-cited-under-smoking-law/ Tue, 24 Feb 2009 7:21 -0800 Missouri FEB 12 - HIGH STAKES: The gambling industry says a smoking ban in Illinois cost that state's casinos $415 million - or nearly 21 percent - in 2008, and the state $177 million in taxes. Colorado is the only other state that fully bans smoking in casinos, and its gambling revenues dropped significantly in the same year. MOMENTUM GROWING: Two smoking ban measures have been introduced in the Missouri Legislature, neither of which exempts casinos. Smoking ban bills also are pending or being debated in several other states. THE ARGUMENTS: The industry says it should decide whether to allow patrons to smoke, and that there isn't a big upheaval among gamblers demanding smoke-free facilities. Health advocates say everyone deserves to breathe clean air - including casino employees. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/02/12/ap6046111.html?partner=email Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:31 -0800 Missouri MAR 15 - A debate about smoking bans will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Boulevard. The debate is sponsored by the Federalist Society. Arguing the pro-ban side will be Martin Pion, founding member of GASP (Group Against Smoking Pollution). Arguing against bans will be Robert Levy, chairman of the Washington-based CATO Institute, and Michael Pakko of the Federal Reserve in St. Louis and the Show-Me Institute. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/F7595977189045878625757A0004742D?OpenDocument Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:51 -0800 Missouri CLAYTON (KMOX News), APR 28 -- Clayton residents are invited to a meeting Tuesday evening at City Hall about a smoking ban in restaurants. Frank Schmitz owns Barcelona restaurant. He and other owners are not allowed to attend the meeting, which he calls concerning. "I had no idea and neither does anybody else, Clayton residents as well as Clayton businesses," Schmitz said. "We don't don't know what the city is doing. We don't know what the process will be." http://www.kmox.com/pages/4283871.php Tue, 28 Apr 2009 7:34 -0800 Missouri APR 27 - Alderwoman Lyda Krewson never met Mike Akridge. But if Krewson is successful, Akridge might have to change the way he acts when he walks into a bar and grills like Friendly's at 3503 Roger Place in Tower Grove South. Krewson, D-28th Ward, who represents the Central West End, plans to introduce a bill at this week's Board of Aldermen meeting that would ban smoking in public places and the workplace as soon as St. Louis County approves a similar ban. That would definitely affect Akridge, a Eureka resident and smoker, who dropped by Friendly's last week. http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/04/28/south/news//0429ssj-smoke0.txt Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:47 -0800 Missouri ST. LOUIS, MAY 2 — City Hall is poised to join the growing debate over whether to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public buildings. But legislation introduced Friday by Central West End Alderman Lyda Krewson comes with a catch: It would only take effect if St. Louis County passes a similar law, a proposition that appears increasingly unlikely. The proposal has managed to irk both opponents of a smoking ban — who say the current economic climate is the wrong time to consider new restrictions on businesses — and anti-smoking advocates, who say the city's conditional approach lacks punch. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/C1CD8A12956892AD862575AA000EA939?OpenDocument Sat, 2 May 2009 9:17 -0800 Missouri JUL 16 - KIRKWOOD, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) - Kirkwood City Council voted down a measure that would have banned smoking in restaurants and bars in the St. Louis County community. The vote took place late Thursday night. Supporters were hoping a change in the measure, allowing for "smoking patios" at restaurants and bars, would garner support among council members. A previous ban, that was voted down by the public, banned smoking within a certain distance of the door, making patio smoking illegal as well. There are enough signatures to put a ban on the November ballot now that council members have refused to pass it. http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-kirkwood-smoking-ban-071609,0,5208255.story Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:22:16 -0700 Missouri It's a good time to be a St. Louis County resident who routinely votes. If you like attention and influence, that is. Both sides in the battle over Proposition N, the county's smoking ban measure, are focusing their last-minute efforts on people who go to the polls -- not just in high-profile election years but also in so-called off years like 2009. With low turnout expected, reaching these voters is crucial for the campaigns. Then there are the interested observers from St. Louis who will be closely monitoring the election results. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted 20-7 last week to approve a smoking ban that is contingent on the county enacting its ban. That means county voters will have the definitive say on the smoking ban issue for much of the region -- at least for now. http://www.stlbeacon.org/elections/prop_n_county_smoking_ban 30 Oct 2009 11:11 -0800 Missouri A proposal by a local advocacy group for a municipal ordinance that would ban smoking in all workplaces inside the city limits lit up a public hearing before the Maryville City Council Monday night. About 60 people crowded into the council chambers to give their views, both pro and con, on the proposed statute, which is backed by Citizens for a Smoke-Free Nodaway County. http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/news/x665150862/Smoke-free-proposal-pits-advocates-against-businesses 27 Oct 2009 11:11 -0800 Missouri Cigar smokers visiting Alcorn Cigars, 8984 Watson Road, may now enjoy an alcoholic beverage along with their smokes in the shop. The Crestwood Board of Aldermen on April 27 approved a conditional use permit for Alcorn Cigars Inc. to add a cigar bar where customers may purchase beer, wine and liquor by the drink. http://www.southcountytimes.com/Articles-i-2010-05-07-169555.113118_Alcohol_To_Be_Served_At_Cigar_Bar.html 4 May 2010 11:11 -0800 Missouri The O'Fallon City Council elected not to take a public stand on a proposed smoking ban headed for the April 5 ballot. The council heard comments from 21 people Wednesday night during a public hearing on the proposed ban, which would prohibit smoking in workplaces. Only two people spoke against the ban. In November, a citizens coalition called Smoke-Free O'Fallon collected more than 1,900 signatures to place the ban on the April ballot. It is the first time O'Fallon residents have exercised the initiative petition power granted them in the city charter, adopted in 2009. http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/article_aca26737-3f20-5de5-9e72-a68f4046a9c6.html 23 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 Missouri Okay, St. Louis puffers, you asked for it -- and here it is: the unofficial list of city bars that have applied for an exemption from the smoking ban. A quick word of caution: This is not a list of places that have officially been declared exempt, but rather a list of bars whose owners believe they should be. In other words, the managers of these joints will continue letting patrons light up until they're told not to by the city's health department. The list also includes tobacco stores and hotels. http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2011/01/st_louis_city_bars_clubs_smoking_ban_exemption_list_applications.php 19 Jan 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri CLAYTON • The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis has received the first citation for violating Clayton's 7-month-old smoking ban — for allowing guests at the annual Cigar Club formal party Saturday night to light up. A Clayton police officer handed the ticket to Ritz general manager Patrick Franssen that night, and Police Chief Thomas Byrne also dropped by the hotel. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_3fe8835c-fb55-55ea-80a5-1128da85df5a.html 26 Jan 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri CLAYTON - The Ritz-Carlton in Clayton has agreed to pay a fine of $300 and court costs of $26.50 after being charged with violating Clayton's smoking ban ordinance, Clayton officials said today. The Ritz has also agreed to comply with the city's ordinance in the future, Clayton officials said in a news release. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_f3672284-3a0a-11e0-a1f0-00127992bc8b.html 16 Feb 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri It's not about health. The April 5 general election will have a proposal on the ballot to ban smoking in all workplaces and public places within Springfield. The petition was initiated by Clean Air Springfield, but it was not a local idea. A national organization, Americans for Non-Smokers Rights from California www.no-smoke.org is actually behind the petition. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110306/OPINIONS02/103060404/Myers-Russell-Smoking-ban-proposal-isn-t-about-health?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinions%7Cp 5 Mar 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Election day is one month away and the smoking issue in Cape Girardeau is beginning to heat up. At their regular meeting on Thursday, the Old Town Cape Board of Directors voted to oppose the proposed smoking ban ordinance over concern for rights of individual business owners. http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=14191821 4 Mar 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Smoking brought dozens of people to a public forum on Tuesday night. At issue is whether smoking should be banned in public places -- including restaurants, bars and businesses -- throughout the Queen City. Voters will decide the ballot initiative on April 5. Before they cast their ballots, both sides presented their arguments. "Secondhand smoke is a proven health hazard, not just a nuisance," said Dr. David Redfern, who is for the smoking ban. http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-public-debate-on-proposed-springfield-smoking-ban-20110315,0,7741259.story 15 Mar 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri O'Fallon Councilman Jim Pepper has followed through on his threat to complain to the IRS about the political work of Tobacco-Free St. Louis. Pepper yesterday filed a complaint with the IRS, charging that the non-profit organization, organized as a 501(c)3, is both engaged in excessive lobbying and involved with a political campaign. 501(c)3 organizations are only permitted to do an insubstantial amount of lobbying -- a maximum of twenty percent of annual expenditures for small non-profits like Tobacco-Free St. Louis -- or risk losing their non-profit status. http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2011/04/tobacco-free_st_louis_irs_non-profit_complaint.php 8 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri Voters voiced their support for the issue last Tuesday. However, tonight the council decided 5 to 3 to go against the voters decision. People who worked to get the smoking ban passed say they are in total disbelief. They say they did everything they needed to do, and they felt tonight would just be a formality to pass the ordinance. But the city council didn't see it that way. Co-Chairperson of Smoke Free Webb City Krista Stark was shocked that council voted it down. She says, "We thought that the will of the people, and however the vote turned out, would be enacted by the city council." http://fourstateshomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=183347 11 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri City officials said a referendum petition will not be able to repeal the citywide smoking ban passed by voters in the April 5 election. The smoke-free O’Fallon measure passed with 73 percent of the vote, banning smoking in most of the city’s bars, restaurants and public places. It is set to go into effect on June 16. http://ofallon.patch.com/articles/ofallon-officials-deny-petition-to-repeal-the-voter-approved-citywide-smoking-ban 28 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri When Springfield's new smoking ordinance takes effect in June, patrons will be able to continue smoking legally on restaurant patios -- even those with roofs -- as long as the walls don't extend to the ceiling on all sides. Add floor-to-ceiling wind screens, however, and smoking is out, even if all the flaps are raised. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110520/NEWS01/105200370/1006/OPINIONS/?odyssey=nav%7Chead 20 May 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri If you're going to ban smoking at corner taverns and mom-and-pop restaurants, why not ban it on the gaming floor of Ameristar Casino, too? On Tuesday night business owners asked that question, again and again, of St. Charles County Council members. http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/stevepokin/article_4d42d42c-2782-5869-b898-0fa1e5334e7c.html 3 Jun 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri St. Charles County, Mo (KSDK) -- A proposed smoking ban died in St. Charles County. Last month, the county council approved a proposal to put a smoking ban on the November 2012 ballot. It would have outlawed smoking inside public restaurants, bars and establishments, except at casinos. A source said St. Charles County Co-executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed the proposal over concerns about exemptions. http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/263103/3/St-Charles-County-smoking-ban-proposal-dead 14 Jun 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri ST. CHARLES, Mo. (KMOX) - St. Charles County Council member are trying to hash out, among themselves, the chances of passing a new smoking ban ordinance. County Executive Steve Ehlmann vetoed a previous attempt at a countywide smoking ban because it exempted casinos, some hotel rooms and private clubs. Ehlmann says the employees of those establishments should be guaranteed clean air. http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/08/09/county-executive-holds-out-for-smoking-ban/ 9 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri In June, Jean Doublin predicted she couldn't keep the doors open to Ruthie's Bar beyond July if the smoking ban went into effect. The bar along Commercial Street continues to operate, but for fewer and fewer patrons, Doublin said. "I'm lucky if my bartender runs $50 or $60 a night," she said. Doublin filed a lawsuit in June challenging the city of Springfield's smoking ban. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110814/NEWS01/108140350/-1/RSS 13 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri Almost nine months after the city of Creve Coeur's new smoking ordinance went into effect, City Council members passed an amendment to the law Monday which allows employers to build smoking shelters. The debate has been ongoing for much of the summer, with arguments ranging from whether the idea of allowing the shelters inherently weakened the original ordinance, or if the city was infringing on individual freedoms if the shelters were not allowed. http://crevecoeur.patch.com/articles/smoking-shelters-get-council-approval 23 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri Almost nine months after the city of Creve Coeur's new smoking ordinance went into effect, City Council members passed an amendment to the law Monday which allows employers to build smoking shelters. The debate has been ongoing for much of the summer, with arguments ranging from whether the idea of allowing the shelters inherently weakened the original ordinance, or if the city was infringing on individual freedoms if the shelters were not allowed. http://crevecoeur.patch.com/articles/smoking-shelters-get-council-approval 23 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Greene County judge ruled Wednesday that the city's voter-approved anti-smoking ordinance does not conflict with a state law. The ordinance went into effect in June after voters approved it in April. It prohibits smoking in businesses and other indoor places where the public is welcome. The owners of Ruthie's Bar, 400 E. Commercial St., sued the city before the law went into effect. They contend the ordinance conflicts with a state law, the Indoor Clean Air Act (ICAA), that requires businesses to post signs saying whether smoking is permitted. Ruthie's attorneys said the state law implicitly implies a business may allow smoking if it posts a sign, thus conflicting with the city ordinance that doesn't give a business owner a choice. http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-judge-rules-against-ruthies-bar-in-lawsuit-over-springfield-antismoking-law-20111012,0,7526279.story 12 Oct 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri The Christian County Commission voted Monday to decline a request to become a tobacco-free campus, which would have prohibited smoking on county property -- including the square in downtown Ozark. Last month, Breathe Easy Christian County Coalition Chair Delores Joyce asked the commissioners to consider the ban to promote a safe and healthy environment. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111018/NEWS01/110180336/Christian-County-rejects-tobacco-free-campus 18 Oct 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri At least a half dozen potential changes are up for discussion today when the City Council meets to consider possible amendments to the smoking ban approved by Springfield voters in April. It's unclear whether any of the suggested changes -- which range from exemptions for cigar bars, veterans clubs and theatrical productions to an outright repeal -- can generate the unanimous support required by the City Charter. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111108/NEWS01/111080355/Smoking-ban-back-before-council?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE 8 Nov 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri Supporters and opponents of two smoking ban-related bills took turns addressing the council, including Ameristar Casino Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Franke and Siteman Cancer Center Manager Sharon Lee. One bill would place a countywide smoking ban on the November 2012 ballot. A second would grant an exemption to the casinos and also would be decided by voters if the county council approves it. http://stpeters.patch.com/articles/smoking-ban-measure-appears-deadlocked-after-st-charles-county-council-meeting 15 Nov 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri Hannibal, MO — Unlike Hannibal voters, residents of St. Charles County won’t have the chance to decide the future of a smoking ban, at least right away. Earlier this week, the St. Charles County Council rejected a measure that would have given voters an opportunity to decide on a countywide smoking ban. On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Hannibal City Council will be asked to give second and final passage to a bill that would allow a proposed smoke-free ordinance to go before voters next April. http://www.hannibal.net/features/x1622885162/Proposed-smoking-ban-won-t-go-before-voters-in-St-Charles-County 4 Dec 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri CLAYTON • U.S. District Judge Charles Shaw has dismissed a lawsuit against Clayton that sought to overturn the city's ban on smoking on outdoor, city-owned property, including public parks. "The City was confident that our ordinance was enacted properly and within the authority of municipal public health concerns," said Mayor Linda Goldstein. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/challenge-to-clayton-outdoor-smoking-ban-rejected/article_5d3b0038-24f0-11e1-a51c-0019bb30f31a.html 12 Dec 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri Jefferson City, Mo. — Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced that two initiative petitions have met state standards for circulation. One of the petitions relates to taxation on cigarettes and other tobacco products, and the other petition relates to a municipal police force. http://www.therolladailynews.com/mobiletopstories/x885900113/Initiative-petition-on-taxing-tobacco-on-ballot 22 Dec 2011 11:11 -0800 Missouri JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The heat is on to increase Missouri's relatively low tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products. On Thursday, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan approved a ballot referendum petition for circulation by the American Cancer Society. Although several draft petitions have already been approved by the secretary of state for possible inclusion on next November's ballot, cigarette tax increase proponents are trying to hedge their bets in 2012 by circulating multiple proposals. http://www.semissourian.com/story/1804012.html?response=no 13 Jan 2012 11:11 -0800 Missouri