Madison cigar bar exempted from ban
By Ben Broeren | Mar. 22, 2006Cigar smokers could breathe easy after the Madison City Council voted ‘yes' to a smoking ban exemption Tuesday for Maduro, 117 E. Main St. The exemption will only allow cigars and pipe smoking in bars that show at least 10 percent of income from such tobacco products.The City Council noted Maduro is the only bar to meet this requirement, and its cigar bar exemption may take effect late April. Other bars have until April 14 to apply for the same exemption.Brian Haltimer, owner of Maduro, said a decline in business has put him in a position to close. He said the enjoyment of a cigar was different from cigarette smoking. People come to his bar to smoke a cigar, regardless of whether they drink,\ he said. ""They want a haven where they can enjoy it."" ""It does not give us, as a cigar bar, an advantage,"" Haltimer said of the amendment. ""We still won't allow cigarettes to be smoked.""Gary Poulson of the Tobacco Free Dane County Coalition spoke against the amendment. He clarified his concern was secondhand smoke, which he said is more potent from cigars.Maduro bartender David Willborn told the council he was a non-smoker, but worked because of Maduro's atmosphere. He said he chose to work there because he likes to ""impart his knowledge of Scotch and beer to the customer.""
