HICKS COLUMN: Real issues hide in veil of smoke

It will be interesting to see if the villagers grab their pitchforks and try to snuff out Charleston's last smoking bar while they have it on the run.

Of course, we know they won't be carrying torches because, well, they don't like smoke.

As Schuyler Kropf reported earlier this week, Club Habana is losing its lease -- and possibly its exemption to the city's smoking ban. Its grandfather clause doesn't transfer to new locations, which means City Council has to either alter its policy or cigar aficionados will be kicked to the curb like the rest of Charleston's smokers.

Five years ago, the city imposed the will of non-smokers on every business in town, but allowed Club Habana to stay open because it's kind of hard to have a cigar bar without cigars. As part of the deal, they weren't allowed to expand or move.

Now, through no fault of their own, Club Habana's landlord is kicking them out. They want to move around the corner and, ideally, council will allow it.

This should be a no-brainer, but it's dangerous when the forces of political correctness get a chance to push their views on even more people.

Freedom of choice?

Lola Marley has run the Smoking Lamp in Charleston for 25 years, and she has strong feelings about this.

While Club Habana and its partner business, the Tinder Box, are her competitors, Marley doesn't want to see either one shut down. It's a matter of principle.

"I think both customers and businesses are smart enough to know whether they ought to allow smoking or not," Marley says.

She's right. Back in the day, some bars were already non-smoking and they did a healthy amount of business. Then the city came in and took their niche away. Suddenly they weren't all that special anymore, and their customers had many more options.

Smokers were left with Club Habana. Since the law allowed smoking in tobacco shops, places like the Smoking Lamp have since gotten beer and wine licenses. But they can't serve liquor.

"It's just not right that all businesses have to be the same," Marley says.

It is kind of socialistic. But the fix is simple: If you don't like the smoke in a bar, don't go.

Live free?

Club Habana has been rocking along for years, and it hasn't hurt anyone. Well, OK, smoking can hurt you. But it's funny how people who otherwise want the government out of their lives have no problem siccing it on others. Come on -- live and let die, or so one of the Beatles said.

This nanny statism that has put Club Habana in a box makes about as much sense as vegans shutting down the Outback. Folks can vote with their pocketbooks, and that way the gubmint isn't picking winners or losers.

Not only should the city allow Club Habana to move with its permit intact, council should use the occasion to poll other businesses on how the ban is working. If officials don't want Club Habana to have a monopoly, let other people apply for exemptions.

And everyone else should just butt out.

Follow Brian Hicks on Twitter at @BriHicks_PandC.