Senators Pass Bill to Restore Smoking in Cigar Bars

The fate of Nebraska cigar bars is now in the hands of the governor after lawmakers approved a bill to once again allow smoking in the establishments.

Senators passed the bill Friday 45-3 in response to a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling. The court struck down a 2009 law last year that allowed smoking in cigar bars and shops.

The measure by Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill makes clear that state lawmakers intended to create a legal exemption for those establishments so they could continue to operate.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has five days to sign the bill.

Smoking is harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers who are exposed to the smoke. Smoking has negative health impacts on people at all stages of life. It harms unborn babies, infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors.

Several studies have shown that the various carcinogens in the cigarette smoke cause cancer. The chances of smokers being affected by cancer are very high. Cancers are most likely to occur in organs like lungs and oral cavity, which come into direct, contact with smoke.



Source: Medindia