Establishes a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on premises in a cigar lounge; defines "cigar lounge"; requires cigar lounges to provide written notification warning employees of the dangers of exposure to tobacco smoke.
Summary
This bill creates a new on-premises liquor license specifically for cigar lounges in New York. It defines a “cigar lounge” as a bona fide retail store that primarily sells cigar-related products, has a humidor, is open to the public, limits access by minors, and does not serve food or permit smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, or shisha. Eligible businesses that already hold a cigarette and tobacco products dealer registration could apply for the new license, which would also cover wine and beer sales without an additional fee.
The bill also sets operating conditions for the license. Cigar lounges would be prohibited from preparing or serving food, would have to stock at least 5% New York-produced liquor, beer, wine, cider, and wine products among their selections, and would be subject to location restrictions near schools and houses of worship, as well as spacing limits in areas with multiple licensed premises. The annual fee for the new license would be $1,792.
Impact
The bill would amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to add a new cigar-lounge-specific retail on-premises liquor license and to define that business category in state law. It would also amend the Labor Law to require cigar lounges to give employees and job applicants written notice warning of the health risks of exposure to tobacco smoke, including cancer and heart disease. The measure would affect cigar retailers that meet the statutory definition, the State Liquor Authority’s licensing process, and workers in those establishments.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed as a targeted business and regulatory measure rather than a broadly controversial one in the available record. Its sponsors include multiple Assembly members, suggesting some level of support for creating a specialized license category. However, the bill’s health-warning requirements and restrictions on food service and location indicate an effort to balance business expansion with public-health concerns.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the public-health implications of expanding alcohol service in cigar lounges and the workplace exposure to second-hand smoke. Supporters may view the bill as a way to regularize and support cigar-lounge businesses, while critics could object to normalizing alcohol sales in smoking venues or to the risk posed to employees and patrons. The bill’s restrictions near schools and houses of worship, its ban on food service, and its requirement for employee warnings suggest lawmakers were trying to address these concerns, but no formal debate or vote record is provided here.
Same As
Establishes a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on premises in a cigar lounge; defines "cigar lounge"; requires cigar lounges to provide written notification warning employees of the dangers of exposure to tobacco smoke.
Establishes a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on premises in a cigar lounge; defines "cigar lounge"; requires cigar lounges to provide written notification warning employees of the dangers of exposure to tobacco smoke.
Establishes a license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on premises in a cigar lounge; defines "cigar lounge"; requires cigar lounges to provide written notification warning employees of the dangers of exposure to tobacco smoke.