Nat Sherman, the tobacconist who makes those fanciful, rainbow-colored cigarettes that taste like candy (just kidding!) and fine cigars for distinguished gentleman types, wants to add booze to its roster—and Bloomberg is none too pleased.
A bill is circulating, created specifically for the Nat Sherman cigar store, that would allow the shop to create a "cigar bar," where well-heeled members would pay "at least $1,000 a year in dues to be able to kick back in a private room and enjoy stogies and booze." It would be just like the good old days, when cigarette girls whispered sweet nothings into the Scotch-clogged ears of railroad empire fatcats! But Bloomberg sees the bill as Sherman's attempt to excuse itself from the city's strict smoking laws. The law currently allows smoking in tobacco shops, but not in places serving food or alcohol.
Some cigar bars were exempt from the smoking ban under a grandfather clause, but Nat Sherman missed out because it was in the process of moving its store, and the city has twice rejected their request for a waiver. Bill sponsor Jonathan Bing defended the store's request, saying "It's allowing a business to increase tax revenue and have more employees," and since people already go there to smoke, the liquor would "enhance that experience."
