Tobacco bills regulate grocery store casinos and candy cigarettes

CARSON CITY -- Candy cigarettes would be spared, but minors buying real smokes won't be if a measure being debated in the Assembly Judiciary Committee is approved.

AB549, introduced on behalf of the attorney general, initially banned gum and candy that look like tobacco products and might entice young people to smoke.

But committee members weren't convinced during a hearing Thursday that candy leads to tobacco addiction and should be dropped from the bill.

"I think it's about time we address the problem of youngsters possessing tobacco products," said Assemblyman Greg Brower, R-Reno. But he added: "Aren't we going overboard here when we're banning the sale of candy?

Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, echoed his sentiments, saying, "If you take away candy cigarettes, then the animal rights groups are going to want us to take away the candy rabbits at Easter."

That provision was removed from the bill, but AB549 would fine minors $100 for possessing cigarettes or other tobacco products.

Other tobacco measured debated Thursday included competing bills to regulate smoking in grocery store casino areas. One bill, proposed by the grocery stores, would require better ventilation. The other would completely ban smoking in grocery stores.

AB502, introduced by Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, would prohibit smoking in the casino areas of grocery stores. That bill was also heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

With Angle at the witness table was Stephanie Glantz, 7, who said she suffers from asthma and is bothered by smoke. Her mother, Katheryne Glantz, told lawmakers she can avoid smoky casinos "but grocery shopping is a necessity of life."

Many Nevada grocery stores have casino arcades, where smoking is allowed, near check-out stands in the front of the stores.

"Anyone who is using the store for its main purpose has to walk through or be exposed to ambient smoke," said Larry Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association.

That gauntlet of slots where smoking is allowed would be phased out rather than flatly outlawed under SB421, a bill that grocers, slot machine and smoking industries presented Thursday to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Their bill would allow smoking but require better ventilation in gambling areas of grocery stores. New stores would have to build an alcove for slots that's separate from the rest of the store.

Grocers are responding to pressure by their customers, said Sam McMullen of the Nevada Retail Association.

"A number of customers are concerned about walking through smoke. Those people have complained to the stores," he said.

Jim Avance, lobbyist for the Slot Operators Association said putting slots in alcoves will cut into his clients' profits, but they still support the bill.

The bill is crucial since smoking and gambling are "habits most parents don't want their children to take up," said Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Reno, agreed the bill was a good start, but added, "Now, if only we could just get the slot machines out of McDonalds."

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