From the editor

In Britain, when football managers get something wrong, the fans have a habit of chanting “you don’t know what you’re doing.” This month we’ve been aiming the insult at the British Government.

Over the issue of smoking in public places, it has acted with the sort of panic you expect from a pen of sheep when a fox is on the prowl.

In footballing terms they have been forced to defend deep, and instead of cleanly kicking the ball clear they have fluffed it, given away a goal to the opposition, and lost the game.

Smokers broadly accept that smoking restrictions need to be applied in family friendly areas and where food is being served. Where the Government has lost the plot, though, is in the way it has gone for an outright ban in most areas.

What happened to all the positive information on highly efficient ventilation systems? Or a more sophisticated approach, which at least allowed for the possibility of a cigar lounge in a suitable hotel or restaurant?

Where the British Government metaphorically lost the ball in its own penalty area was when it started talking about only allowing smoking in areas where no food was allowed.

In essence this reverses a 30 year trend and reintroduces the division between a food-free bar area, where the masses gather to drink, and the smoke free food-driven lounge, where ‘a better class’ of people go.

And it has left the Government open to the charge that it is flying in the face of all efforts to encourage responsible drinking by driving people back to bars where alcohol is served in food-free environments.

Doesn’t it see it is offering the last refuge for the smoker up on a plate to those who want nothing less than an outright smoking ban?

As we went to press the Government was performing another major U-turn.

My guess is that this isn’t over yet.

Well done, New Labour. You’ve created more than a storm in an ashtray.

This is Hurricane Ban, it’s gathering force, and nothing can stand in its way.

And it looks like we’ll be left to clear up the mess.

By Dominic Roskrow

Section : From the Editor

Page number : 3

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 6 on 11/11/2005.

This article is 81 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 In Britain, when football managers get something wrong, the fans have a habit of chanting “you don’t know what you’re doing.” This month we’ve been aiming the insult at the British Government. Over the issue of smoking in public places, it has acted with the sort of panic you expect from a pen of sheep when a fox is on the prowl. In footballing terms they have been forced to defend deep, and instead of cleanly kicking the ball clear they have fluffed it, given away a goal to the opposition, and lost the game. Smokers broadly accept that smoking restrictions need to be applied in family friendly areas and where food is being served. Where the Government has lost the plot, though, is in the way it has gone for an outright ban in most areas. What happened to all the positive information on highly efficient ventilation systems? Or a more sophisticated approach, which at least allowed for the possibility of a cigar lounge in a suitable hotel or restaurant? Where the British Government metaphorically lost the ball in its own penalty area was when it started talking about only allowing smoking in areas where no food was allowed. In essence this reverses a 30 year trend and reintroduces the division between a food-free bar area, where the masses gather to drink, and the smoke free food-driven lounge, where ‘a better class’ of people go. And it has left the Government open to the charge that it is flying in the face of all efforts to encourage responsible drinking by driving people back to bars where alcohol is served in food-free environments. Doesn’t it see it is offering the last refuge for the smoker up on a plate to those who want nothing less than an outright smoking ban? As we went to press the Government was performing another major U-turn. My guess is that this isn’t over yet. Well done, New Labour. You’ve created more than a storm in an ashtray. This is Hurricane Ban, it’s gathering force, and nothing can stand in its way. And it looks like we’ll be left to clear up the mess. By Dominic Roskrow Section : From the Editor Page number : 3 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 6 on 11/11/2005. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 81 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.