| one perspective, the dramatic rebound of premium | | | | producer and smoking hub, not to mention the place |
| cigars couldn’t have come at a better time. | | | | where many Union soldiers first discovered the habit |
| After decades of competition from cigarettes, the | | | | of cigar smoking during the Civil War. North Carolina |
| gradual deterioration (through age) of its customer | | | | was the scene of the discovery of Brightleaf |
| base, and decreased consumer interest in tobacco | | | | tobacco, and the home of Durham, a major tobacco |
| products generally, the sudden early-nineteen-nineties | | | | city. South Carolina was also, early on, a big tobacco |
| resurgence of interest in premium cigars was | | | | producer. |
| instrumental in keeping the industry alive. After fourth | | | | Other very smoke-positive states include the |
| quarter industry growth in 1992 (the first in years), | | | | Midwestern states Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, |
| the launch of new magazines devoted to the hobby | | | | Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Perhaps smoking helps deal |
| of cigar smoking, and a proliferation of cigar bars and | | | | with the harsh winters for which many of these |
| specialty shops, cigars were trendy for the first time | | | | states are infamous. The same beat-the-cold |
| in decades. | | | | explanation may apply in Alaska, another state with |
| But the timing was also somewhat ironic. Between a | | | | maximally permissive smoking laws, and Kentucky, |
| high-profile class-action suit against cigarette | | | | which I would have counted as a |
| companies and controversies over cigarette | | | | “Midwestern” state, except that |
| advertising—not to mention a general decline in | | | | some Kentuckians take violent exception to this |
| the number of smokers—the world’s | | | | designation. (Some also don’t like it if you call |
| cigar makers found themselves experiencing new | | | | them “southern.”) Rounding out the |
| popularity at a time when their industry was also | | | | list of the top pro-smoking states are Pennsylvania |
| facing new marketing challenges. Along with these | | | | and Wyoming. |
| changes came a gradual increase in the number of | | | | As for the bottom of the list: if you like smoking in |
| buildings, towns, and sometimes entire states where | | | | bars, restaurants, casinos and workplaces, stay out |
| smoking of all kinds was regulated. All those new | | | | of Arizona, Delaware, Washington State and |
| cigar smokers found themselves restricted from | | | | Washington D.C., Illinois, Maine, Maryland, |
| enjoying their new hobby in airports, restaurants, and | | | | Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, |
| entire localities. | | | | Oregon, Utah, and—no |
| All of which raises a question—if you're a | | | | surprise—California. All of these states have |
| smoker traveling the United States, what are your | | | | enacted the least permissive, widest-scale smoking |
| options? To what parts of the United States can you | | | | bans at the statewide level. Not only that, but |
| travel if you’re hoping to enjoy a box of fine | | | | several of them are cold—it’s hard to |
| cigars alongside the new sights and sounds? | | | | imagine a worse fate than traipsing around |
| There’s no easy answer to that question, | | | | Minneapolis or St. Paul in winter, with an unlightable |
| because individual towns and cities within an overall | | | | stogie, exiled from your favorite bar. In Arizona and |
| smoking-friendly state can enact their own forms of | | | | California, at least it’s warm enough out on |
| anti-smoking legislation. But in terms of statewide | | | | the sidewalk. |
| laws, here is a brief guide to the states with the | | | | States that allow at least some indoor, public smoking |
| most permissive—and the most | | | | include Tennessee, Arkansas, and Montana, where |
| restrictive—smoking legislation. | | | | some bars and casinos allow smoking, as well as |
| First of all, the overall news is—if | | | | Hawaii, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, where bars, |
| you’re planning a true cigar-lover’s | | | | casinos and restaurants that allow smoking may be |
| vacation, you might want to stick to the South (no | | | | found. Most of the other states have heavier but not |
| surprise there) or parts of the Midwest. Of the | | | | full restrictions. (And as for Nevada, if you’re |
| eighteen states that allow smoking in bars of all kinds, | | | | wondering—well, you can smoke in some |
| as well as in casinos, restaurants and workplaces, | | | | casinos and bars, but not anywhere that serves |
| quite a few are in one of these two regions of the | | | | food.) |
| country. | | | | Wherever you go, if you're worried about |
| Among the southern states with permissive smoking | | | | encountering roadblocks to smoking, call ahead to |
| laws are Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, | | | | your hotel or visit the city's web page. After all, local |
| South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. | | | | ordinances can be as restrictive as any statewide |
| Tobacco plays an important role in the history of | | | | ban. Do research first. |
| many of these states: Virginia was a major tobacco | | | | |