Cigar Weekly

Global Broadcast Database - English

AN ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILOR SAYS ALL THE CITY'S CIGAR BARS ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY ... AND HE WANTS THEM SHUT DOWN. MIKE CADIGAN SAYS THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS NOT ISSUED ANY PERMITS TO CIGAR BARS ... MEANING THEY'RE ALL OUT OF COMPLICANCE WITH THE DEE JOHNSON CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT. BUT THE OWNER OF "IMBIBE" IN NOB HILL TELLS US THEY'VE APPLIED FOR A PERMIT .. AND SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE WHILE THEY WAIT FOR APPROVAL: "We believe this would devastate our business." There's a lot of people dying and getting sick from exposure to first hand tobacco and second hand tobacco. It's one of the major health issues in the city and we should be taking it more seriously." ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SAFETY CHIEF PETE DINELLI SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS RIGHT NOW TO GO AFTER THE CIGAR BARS -- SINCE THE STATE JUST RECENTLY PROVIDED RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS. DINELLI SAYS THREE BUSINESS, INCLUDING "IMBIBE", HAVE SO FAR APPLIED FOR PERMITS.