The Augusta Commission has voted to allow the city to move forward and amend the current smoking ordinance to allow cigar bars to operate.
District 1 Commissioner Jordan Johnson has pushed for the measure for several weeks. The matter went before the Public Services Committee on July 27 but failed to receive a recommendation.
Some commissioners feared that allowing cigar bars would water down the smoking ordinance, enacted in 2018, that currently bans smoking and vaping in all public buildings.
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Johnson made clear to his colleagues that he was not trying to roll back the smoking ordinance but simply attempting to allow businesses that cater to cigar aficionados to offer a place where they can have a drink and enjoy a nice cigar.
“They have allowed cigar bars to operate in other cities like Atlanta, and it hasn’t affected the overall smoking ordinances,” Johnson said.
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One holdout on the commission, District 4 Commissioner Sammie Sias, asked how the city would enforce the ordinance to make sure that only cigars were being smoked in such an establishment.
District 10 Commissioner John Clarke responded by saying that such establishments are very good at regulating themselves.
“It would be the customers that wouldn’t allow cigarettes in. They would be the ones to kick you out,” Clarke said. “Cigar connoisseurs enjoy the smell of a good cigar and don’t want the aroma ruined with cigarette smoke.”
Jesse O’Neil, who works at Bucksnorts Cigar Lounge in North Augusta, agreed with Clarke, saying his customers come in for quality, expensive tobacco and want to savor the flavor while enjoying a cold beer.
“Sometimes people playing in the pool league might light up a cigarette, but mostly people come in for the cigar experience,” O’Neill said.
Bucksnorts, which has been in business for 10 years, looks like any other lounge with pool tables and seating areas. The one difference is the large tobacco displays that run almost the entire length of the building.
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North Augusta’s ordinance bans smoking in all establishments except those that sell tobacco.
Planning and Zoning Director Rob Sherman outlined the proposed amendment, telling commissioners that cigar bars will have to prove that 20% of their gross annual income stems from the sale of cigars.
“It would be periodically checked, probably when they pay their mixed drink excise tax,” Sherman said.
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The amendment would allow a cigar bar to operate only in buildings with separate entrances/exits and cannot be directly adjoined with another business such as a restaurant or retail outlet. According to Sherman, the business must include a sign that clearly identifies it as a cigar bar.
The proposed annual fee to operate a cigar bar would be $50 along with the regular alcohol license fees.
The commission vote was 8 – 2 with District 7 Commissioner Sean Frantom joining Sias in voting no.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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