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Smoke if you got 'em: Washington DC to OK hotel smoking
Non-smokers probably won't be too excited by the news, but cigar smokers will rejoice. The Washington DC City Council passed a measure last week that eases smoking restrictions on hotels in our nation's capital. The Special Event Exemption Emergency Act of 2010 carries an amendment that offers a way for hotels to be exempted from the city's smoking ban. If you prefer your hotels sans puffing, there's no cause for alarm – the rules are pretty narrow.Hotels will be allowed to host special cigar-smoking events once a year, as long as at least 500 people are in attendance (which means the venue must be large enough to accommodate this number of guests). Also, the hotel will have to notify the Department of Health and pay a $250 fee. Quite simply, it has to be a pretty hefty occasion.
As with any "emergency" measure, you'd be correct to assume that this law was passed with something specific in mind. In this case, it was the city's annual St. Patrick's Day dinner, organized by the social organization the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Historically, the patron saint of Ireland is toasted with brandy and a cigar.
In Washington DC, most emergency legislation lasts for 90 days, but this measure stretches out for 270, as the council also wanted to protect a charity event called Friday Night Fight, which is held on November 11. Last year, it raised more than $2.8 million for Fight for Children.
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Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
mtlmasters Mar 9th 2010 6:40AM
after traveling for the last 18 years for work and being a non smoker, what took you guys so long to figure this one out? the only problem i see is someone has to make a non smoking hotel right next door to it. ( well, 200 yards away).i am the minority in my company of smokers..i might have to drive 3 or 4 miles to get a non smoking hotel. I had this idea years ago..must have been cig smoke commin out of your ears..cause it sure wasnt bring cells burning..
poppa Mar 9th 2010 7:00AM
I am sick and tired of all of the whining and complaining form all of the weak,holier-than-thou PUNKS in the world. I say lets turn back time 70 years, call things for what they are , and if you don't like it, GET THE HELL OUT !!!! Every time someone says something about my smoke, I blow smoke directly at the person and tell themto F off !! And beg any of you liberal fa***** to say or do anything about it !! What a country full of punks the US has turned in to!
Nancy McNeill Mar 9th 2010 8:15PM
I do believe that second hand smoke continuously in an enclosed environment is extremely bad for you , however, I do feel that there should be places that adults can make that decision for themselves. Speaking as a former smoker and owner of a Billiard Hall in NH, I will tell you that we lost most of our business once the smoking ban went into effect and we're on the verge of Bankruptcy. This is a State whose motto is supposed to be Live Free or Die. What changed ? The Politics. We are under Liberal Democratic Laws. Business owners should be able to decide whether or not they want a smoking venue since the product is and never will be illegal. It brings in too much revenue .