Smokeasy

A smokeasy (also spelled "smoke-easy" or "smokeeasy") is a business, especially a barroom, that allows smoking despite a legal prohibition. When smoking bans are passed, many smokers desire a place to go where they can smoke at the bar, and some people are willing to risk the legal penalties involved in allowing smoking.

Finding a smokeasy can be difficult, since the illegal nature of the operation makes it difficult to promote. Some suggest looking for a barroom that curiously doesn't have anyone standing outside smoking.

Some smokeasy operators simply operate openly, figuring the fines they will collect is merely a cost of doing business. Others employ stealth tactics. For example, in New York City, where it is illegal to have an ashtray in the workplace, smokeasy bartenders will sometimes fill cups halfway with water to serve as ashtrays. A visit from the city inspector then merely requires getting customers to extinguish their smoking materials and disposing of the cigarette butts.