Council looking at more smoking restrictions
Bills target single cigar sales and scented wrappers, smoking near hospitals in city
The Baltimore City Council is set to hold hearings today on three pieces of legislation that would further restrict smoking in the city, causing some in the council to predict some heated debates in the coming months.
Council members will hear the pros and cons of a proposed bill to ban the sale of single cigars, one that prohibits flavored cigar and cigarette wrappers and legislation to ban smoking near hospitals.
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The bill she is most focused on attempts to put single cigars out of the financial reach of children by requiring manufactures to sell their products in packets of five or more. Some Baltimore stores now sell these cheap cigars for as little as 50 cents a piece, she said. A larger packet will drive up the cost, she said.
The health department already issued regulations requiring sales in packets of five or more. Those rules were set to go into effect on Thursday but the health department agreed to put off enforcing the rules until December to give the tobacco industry more time to comply.
The City Council legislation, introduced by Councilman Robert Curran,
adds heft to those rules by providing the health commissioner added powers to temporarily shut down businesses that sell individual cigars and creating a $500 fine for offenders.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci.tobacco29sep29,0,6828730.storyI am sure poor folks will appreciate this. I feel much safer now. And I am guessing kids with parents that have money aren't going to worry about getting 5 cigars at once instead of just one.
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