From the Editor

It is heartening to hear that there is life after a smoking ban for retailers, as in the case of Robert Graham featured in this issue.

But it is also important that the battle to squeeze out every concession from the authorities continues apace so that cigar retailers can continue to run legitimate and legal businesses, and cigar smokers can continue to get hold of one of the planet’s most luxurious commodities.

The right of cigar retailers to allow customers to try potential premium priced purchases is a key one, and a special enclosed room in a venue that is likely to contain people who smoke would seem to be perfectly reasonable.

Not even the most intolerant antismoker should begrudge cigar smokers such a facility while the product remains legal.

While the overwhelming vote in the British parliament for a total ban in England and Wales was bitterly disappointing, it is becoming increasingly clear that the implications haven’t been thought through properly and there are grey areas in the proposed legislation, and therefore grounds for sensible manoeuvre.

There are also potential loopholes to exploit.

What is essential, though, is that we are clear what the ban does and doesn’t entail and we don’t over-react.

There have been stories coming from Scotland, for instance, of pubs who have removed their cigarette machines because they thought they were no longer permitted to sell cigarettes.

Presumably they’re not selling cigars from the bar any more, either.

All these rules can of course end up as nonsense. It was suggested, for instance, that actors wouldn’t be able to smoke while filming indoors. That would mean a Stalinist-rewriting of history as characters such as Churchill would no longer be allowed to hold his iconic cigar.

It will still be okay to show soldiers killing civilians with machine guns, however, or knife fights.

This is clearly because they’re not a threat to your health obviously.

By Dominic Roskrow

Section : From the Editor

Page number : 3

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 8 on 20/05/2006.

This article is 74 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 It is heartening to hear that there is life after a smoking ban for retailers, as in the case of Robert Graham featured in this issue. But it is also important that the battle to squeeze out every concession from the authorities continues apace so that cigar retailers can continue to run legitimate and legal businesses, and cigar smokers can continue to get hold of one of the planet’s most luxurious commodities. The right of cigar retailers to allow customers to try potential premium priced purchases is a key one, and a special enclosed room in a venue that is likely to contain people who smoke would seem to be perfectly reasonable. Not even the most intolerant antismoker should begrudge cigar smokers such a facility while the product remains legal. While the overwhelming vote in the British parliament for a total ban in England and Wales was bitterly disappointing, it is becoming increasingly clear that the implications haven’t been thought through properly and there are grey areas in the proposed legislation, and therefore grounds for sensible manoeuvre. There are also potential loopholes to exploit. What is essential, though, is that we are clear what the ban does and doesn’t entail and we don’t over-react. There have been stories coming from Scotland, for instance, of pubs who have removed their cigarette machines because they thought they were no longer permitted to sell cigarettes. Presumably they’re not selling cigars from the bar any more, either. All these rules can of course end up as nonsense. It was suggested, for instance, that actors wouldn’t be able to smoke while filming indoors. That would mean a Stalinist-rewriting of history as characters such as Churchill would no longer be allowed to hold his iconic cigar. It will still be okay to show soldiers killing civilians with machine guns, however, or knife fights. This is clearly because they’re not a threat to your health obviously. By Dominic Roskrow Section : From the Editor Page number : 3 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 8 on 20/05/2006. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 74 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.