The new law became effective July 1. All known tobacco product retailers are being notified of the registration process by letter. The mailing will also include a copy of the registration form. Alternately, retailers will also be able to register online, using a credit card, at www.in.gov/atc - the ATC's official website.

According to ATC Chairperson Mary DePrez, there may be as many as 15,000 tobacco product retailers throughout Indiana. However, due to current lack of a tracking system, that number could be higher.

"The new required registration will give us the ability to identify all retail outlets where tobacco products are sold," DePrez said. "Though the efforts of our Indiana State Excise Police have been effective, who we've been able to reach has been somewhat limited, due to the lack of required retailer registration."

Representing two prominent Seneca Nation business people, Buffalo attorney Paul J. Cambria Jr. filed suit in New York state court in June claiming the state's law prohibiting the sales is a violation of the rights of Native Americans. The case was promptly transferred to U.S. District Judge William Skretny because he had a similar suit before him, filed by a group of Indian and non-Indian online tobacco sellers.

"The main difference between our lawsuit and the [other action] is that ours was filed only by Senecas and revolves entirely around Native American issues," Cambria said.

The suit was filed on behalf of two Seneca Nation tobacco sellers, Anna L. Ward and Barry Snyder Jr. Ward runs the Big Indian Smoke Shop in Irving, N.Y. Snyder runs JR's Smoke Shop, also in Irving. Both businesses sell cigarettes in their shops but also use the telephone, mail, and Internet to conduct mail-order sales of untaxed cigarettes at prices far below those charged in non-Indian stores.

State legislators passed a public health law in 2000 barring Internet and mail-order sales of cigarettes to private individuals in the state who are not licensed by the state to receive them. State attorneys said the intent of the law is to prevent children and teens from buying cigarettes over the Internet. The state only began enforcing the law on June 18.

Opponents of the law claim that its real purpose is to increase the sales of taxed cigarettes from stores in the state, and in turn, increase the state's annual tax revenues on tobacco sales.

Avo created the pilot lounge in collaboration with cigar retailer and fervent Avo cigar admirer Otto Fischer. The design, fittings, and overall look of the elegant lounge were developed jointly with Uvezian. When planning the lounge concept, particular care was taken to ensure that the project could be reproduced elsewhere; additional locations are already under consideration. The recurring theme is an Avo Lounge logo in pale blue, created specifically for the Avo Smokers' Lounge concept.

The innovative Avo Cigar Lounge is intended to be a haven for pleasure and relaxation. The stylish interior was tailored to suit Avo Uvezian's philosophy of "cigars and music." Seated in one of the 25 lounge chairs, aficionados can enjoy the jazz musician's fine cigars against a backdrop of attentive service that also offers culinary specialities. The walk-in humidor is integrated within the shop front, and offers the entire range of Avo cigars. In addition, a special line of cigars, the Avo Lounge Cigar series featuring a pale blue band, is being developed and will only be available in the Avo Lounge.