Can You Bring Your Own Cigars to a Cigar Bar?
Folks who are new to cigars may wonder if they can bring cigars to a cigar bar. It depends on the establishment and its policy regarding outside products coming into the business. Brick-and-mortar cigar stores and bars tend to address this issue individually, and a little cigar lounge etiquette goes a long way when you’re aware of your environment.
We all know it’s prohibited to bring alcohol into a bar. In most cases, it’s illegal. Cigars are treated differently, though. Some cigar stores and bars are sympathetic to the fact that there are few places where you can smoke in public these days. They are happy to offer their space as a place for you to smoke, but they may charge a cutting fee and/or require you to make a purchase, which is entirely reasonable. Here is some guidance on bringing cigars to a cigar bar.
Ask Before You Light a Cigar You Brought
Before you whip out a cigar from your breast pocket and fire it up, ask if it’s okay to smoke your cigar. Some brick-and-mortar shops prohibit it or require that you pay a cutting fee to smoke an outside cigar. A cutting fee is a fee the business charges for cutting and smoking a cigar that you purchased elsewhere. A cutting fee incentivizes customers to make a purchase, ensuring the store or lounge still makes a profit when you bring your cigars. Cigar lounges are usually small businesses that can’t afford to host a room full of non-paying patrons.
Support the Lounge, Even If You Can Bring Your Own
Cigar lounges pay rent, employ staff, and rely on revenue to sustain their operations. Even if a cigar bar’s policy states that it’s okay to bring your cigars, be a courteous patron and buy a cigar while you’re there. Inevitably, an employee cleans the ashtrays and vacuums the lounge before you arrive and after you’re gone, not to mention the cost of the inventory in the humidor. Making a purchase is a logical way to support the business and earn the privilege to smoke on the premises. Additionally, paying customers get the best service.
What If the Cigar Bar Doesn’t Sell the Cigar You Want to Smoke?
Some shop owners understand that you want to bring your cigar because it’s a brand or a size that they don’t currently sell, and they know that they can’t carry everything. However, it’s considerate to reciprocate and buy something, regardless, when you’re allowed to smoke a cigar that you purchased elsewhere. If a cigar store or lounge doesn’t carry the cigars you want to smoke, order a drink if the establishment has a liquor license. Or buy a gift for someone else. Ultimately, business owners who welcome you to bring your cigars do so because they want to earn your patronage as a paying customer. That’s how they stay in business.
Retail Cigar Store vs. Cigar Bar with a Liquor License
Keep in mind that a cigar bar with a full liquor license and bartenders who serve alcohol may be more amenable to customers who bring their cigars because they know you’re going to order a drink. The Ashton Cigar Bar in downtown Philadelphia, for example, does not charge a cutting fee to its patrons. High-end, ultra-accommodating establishments like Ashton Cigar Bar maintain a customer-centric approach.
Retail cigar shops that cannot sell alcohol don’t have the luxury of alternative revenue streams from cocktails and whiskey. Therefore, your purchase of cigars is essential for their business. We still advocate buying a cigar, in addition to your drink, when you’re visiting a cigar lounge with a proper bar because you’re supporting the establishment and preserving its longevity. The more places that we have to smoke these days, the better.
When Outside Cigars Are Prohibited
Be respectful of establishments that strictly prohibit outside cigars. Ask a staff member to clarify the policy if it isn’t posted on the counter or the door. If you don’t want to make a purchase, you don’t have to smoke there. Business owners may prohibit outside cigars to avoid entertaining patrons who will take advantage of their facilities. Unfortunately, some folks feel it’s acceptable to buy their cigars online for a discount and smoke them in a public lounge they have no intention of supporting. Don’t be that guy. Be a gracious guest and support your local lounge.
Private Membership Cigar Lounges
Many cigar stores maintain lounges that are not open to the general public. They charge monthly or annual membership fees for the exclusive use of their lounges. When you purchase a membership to a private lounge, the proprietor is unlikely to scrutinize the cigars you smoke. However, these businesses often offer additional deals and incentives to their members to buy their cigars in-house. Most cigar lovers who purchase lounge memberships enthusiastically buy most, if not all, of their cigars from the same business.
