From the Editor

And so to plan B… Last issue we argued that we should encourage an alliance of smokers and tolerant non smokers to protect us from the ‘ban it at all costs’ lobby.

Since then Scotland has gone for a total smoking ban and the ‘against’ lobby has become emboldened. So it’s time for a change of tactic – now cigar smokers should withdraw from any broad coalition and put as much clear blue water between themselves and other smokers. In other words, it’s every smoker for themselves.

How do we justify this volte face? Easy. Call it snobbery, but let’s be honest, our alliance with the cigarette smoker was nothing more than a marriage of convenience, was it? When did cigarette smokers jump up and down in support of pipe and cigar smokers when they were permitted to smoke and we were not? And at the end of the day, a smoking ban is nothing more than an inconvenience for them. They can pop out and stand on a doorstep for five minutes to smoke and indeed, the social opportunities this presents can actually make such trips quite pleasant. Dating’s not off the agenda – after all, if you meet someone this way, at least you know you’ve got one fundamental thing in common.

But the ‘quick drag’ outside isn’t an option for a serious cigar smoker. What we’re looking at is not an inconvenience, it’s a change of lifestyle.

And that’s why we have to urge the British government to stop short of the complete ban, to allow smoking where no food is being served, and to not only allow but to encourage a segregated smoking room.

This presents the opportunity for the widespread introduction of cigar lounges. And this in turn will benefit the cigar sector overall – for the evidence suggests that if you’re going to all the trouble of moving rooms to smoke you start to place the quality of the occasion above the quantity.

Further smoking restrictions are beginning to look inevitable – the ‘go it alone’ option at least give us a chance.

By Dominic Roskrow

Section : From the Editor

Page number : 3

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 3 on 01/05/2005.

This article is 88 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	From the Editor And so to plan B… Last issue we argued that we should encourage an alliance of smokers and tolerant non smokers to protect us from the ‘ban it at all costs’ lobby. Since then Scotland has gone for a total smoking ban and the ‘against’ lobby has become emboldened. So it’s time for a change of tactic – now cigar smokers should withdraw from any broad coalition and put as much clear blue water between themselves and other smokers. In other words, it’s every smoker for themselves. How do we justify this volte face? Easy. Call it snobbery, but let’s be honest, our alliance with the cigarette smoker was nothing more than a marriage of convenience, was it? When did cigarette smokers jump up and down in support of pipe and cigar smokers when they were permitted to smoke and we were not? And at the end of the day, a smoking ban is nothing more than an inconvenience for them. They can pop out and stand on a doorstep for five minutes to smoke and indeed, the social opportunities this presents can actually make such trips quite pleasant. Dating’s not off the agenda – after all, if you meet someone this way, at least you know you’ve got one fundamental thing in common. But the ‘quick drag’ outside isn’t an option for a serious cigar smoker. What we’re looking at is not an inconvenience, it’s a change of lifestyle. And that’s why we have to urge the British government to stop short of the complete ban, to allow smoking where no food is being served, and to not only allow but to encourage a segregated smoking room. This presents the opportunity for the widespread introduction of cigar lounges. And this in turn will benefit the cigar sector overall – for the evidence suggests that if you’re going to all the trouble of moving rooms to smoke you start to place the quality of the occasion above the quantity. Further smoking restrictions are beginning to look inevitable – the ‘go it alone’ option at least give us a chance. By Dominic Roskrow Section : From the Editor Page number : 3 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 3 on 01/05/2005. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 88 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2012. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.