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Council introduces ordinance to allow alcohol service in smoking lounges
Summary
Following a council study session, the City Council approved introduction of an ordinance amending the city code to permit alcohol consumption in licensed smoking lounges, clearing the way for a pending cigar bar application to seek a liquor license and smoking‑lounge permit.
Farmington Hills City Council voted to introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 8 (business licensing), Article 2 (smoking lounges), to allow licensed consumption of alcoholic beverages in approved smoking lounges.
City staff said the action follows a prior change last year that removed the bona fide restaurant requirement from the liquor code, specifically to enable other hospitality uses to seek licenses. The city clerk told council the city recently received an application for both a liquor license and a smoking lounge license for an upscale cigar bar; under the current smoking‑lounge code, alcohol is not permitted inside a smoking lounge.
At a prior study session staff presented draft language, and council members indicated general support for moving the amendment forward. Councilmember Knoll made the motion to introduce the ordinance at the regular meeting; the motion passed on roll call. The ordinance introduction starts a formal process — typically a first reading followed by a second reading and potential adoption at a later meeting — during which the city will finalize the code language and accept any required public input.
The clerk advised council that the city’s smoking‑lounge license retains the city’s existing regulatory framework for hours, age restrictions and compliance, while the new ordinance text would simply allow alcohol consumption when the license and permits are in place.
