The era of unregulated cigars may be going up in smoke

[El Presidente]

I have to commend the fight going on in the US re Cigar Regulation.

You have certainly frustrated the Cigar nazis to date.

https://www.statnews.com/2016/03/23/cigar-fda-proposed-regulations/

[irratebass]

Just found out today in South Bend, Indiana they have banned smoking in cigar shops, bars and restaurants. From Aug 1st to Jan 2nd....so you can bet they will be fighting that.

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[irratebass]

Https://www.Halfwheel.com/south-bend-ind-bans-smoking-in-cigar-shops-bars-restaurants/111128

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[Duxnutz]

I'm sitting in a cigar lounge in Wisconsin right this minute talking bout this very subject. Places here were grandfathered in under the 'indoor smoking act'. Sure as heck wish we could have had that where I live!

[skalls]

I don't have a problem with bars banning smoking. Do wish ND had an exception for Cigar lounges.

But we had an ******* bar owner that pushed the envelope (had a walk in humidor that cigarette smokers were smoking in at his bar) and reason lost out. Sucks...

[Phatskipper]

I am going to keep this short lest I loose some words that tarnish my sterling reputation <Sarcasm...

We are fighting hard on this. I cannot begin to explain how much this infuriates me. The key line to me is "But a 2009 law..." It seems this is yet another law that was passed by a Statist House, a Statist Senate and signed by a Statist President. The fight here in the States to retain even the semblance of freedom from overbearing regulations into every nook of our lives is real. For some reason, the left insists that there cannot be a single part of my life that the government doesn't have some say in.

I cannot for the life of me come up with a good reason other than they intend on taking it all the way to the Orwellian end. I fear for what this all means for my country, my family and future generations. I wonder if "We the people" will fight or if too many of us are finally too fat from living off the government teat that "We the people" can't even muster the motivation to act.

Scary times.

[scar]

I don't have a problem with bars banning smoking. Do wish ND had an exception for Cigar lounges.

But we had an ******* bar owner that pushed the envelope (had a walk in humidor that cigarette smokers were smoking in at his bar) and reason lost out. Sucks...

I don't have a problem with bars banning smoking either. I do have a problem with the city doing it for them.

[luv2fly]

Here in TN, cig smoking only in establishments that are 21 and up. Cigar smoking is up to each owner I believe. Still able to smoke in a cigar shop as far as I know but I don't visit many anymore.

[jwr0201]

Agree that things are being taken much too far. Like the DUI laws with the blood alcohol levels. Over the years, this has been lowered to the point that just one 12oz regular beer will render even a large dude legally DUI. That means if the police were to decide to stop every person leaving a local pub or bar, there would likely be some 80-90% that are over the legal limit. MADD in action. What started as a good idea, was legislated to an extreme, all in the name of making driving safer. No reason for bars or smoking lounges to have to ban smoking or cigars. This goes double for outdoor venues, such as beaches, parks and public walkways. Too bad the Cigar Lobby does not list the politicians that vote for the bans, so we can vote them the hell out of office!!!

[ElPuro]

[CdnLimitada]

It is a complex topic or rather people make it complex. There are certainly points to both sides. I think we are all a little biased on the forum as we are cigar smokers. I don't think that cigars should be smoked in many public places. I certainly wouldn't want to go back to the days of smoking indoors at restaurants. Even bars it is nice to not have smoking like it was in the 80s and early 90s. Exceptions to this are a smoking section of a patio and a smoking lounge (a no-brainer). A dedicated area in a bar is fine as long as it is blocked off like a smoking lounge in an airport.

People that work at these places should have a choice to work in a smoking section or not. If you are applying for a job in a smoking lounge and have a problem with smoke...well...

If smoking was banned on golf courses I would have to think of buying an island somewhere.

[scar]

It is a complex topic or rather people make it complex. There are certainly points to both sides. I think we are all a little biased on the forum as we are cigar smokers. I don't think that cigars should be smoked in many public places. I certainly wouldn't want to go back to the days of smoking indoors at restaurants. Even bars it is nice to not have smoking like it was in the 80s and early 90s. Exceptions to this are a smoking section of a patio and a smoking lounge (a no-brainer). A dedicated area in a bar is fine as long as it is blocked off like a smoking lounge in an airport.

People that work at these places should have a choice to work in a smoking section or not. If you are applying for a job in a smoking lounge and have a problem with smoke...well...

If smoking was banned on golf courses I would have to think of buying an island somewhere.

So you think that a person should purchase a business, pay taxes,license fees, and other related costs to run that business, then because you think it would be nice to not smell smoke a law should be passed telling the owner what he can do? How about you make choice not to go there. If you don't want to smell smoke at work, make a choice to work somewhere else. You have that choice. The bar/restaurant owner should have that choice in the place he pays for. See how well it can work if everyone has choices. If this is how you feel you should start saving for that island, because the more people that think like that the sooner you will be buying it.

[joeruby]

Great article.

I really don't mind them banning smoking indoors in public places, I'm happy to smoke a cigar at home where I cannot 'harm' anyone.

What irks me is the lumping together of premium cigars and cigarettes all under the same 'tobacco laws'.

I have never seen or heard of for that matter, an underage cigar smoker, or a kid wanting to take up smoking and rush out to buy $40+ cigars.

I first started smoking the occasional cigar in my late 20's and this went on into my 30's & 40's very very occasionally.

It's not until I got into my 50's I really started enjoying them and buying boxes etc. I'm 55 now and have really reached a comfortable place with cigars where I can take the time out and really enjoy them.

I read somewhere out of all smokers it's just 2 or 3 percent that smoke cigars exclusively. Yet in Australia, we are currently subject to $671.68 p/kg Duty on all tobacco plus GST.

I'm seriously thinking of visiting my local federal member to highlight this distinction between premium Cuban cigars and cigarettes.

They should not be taxed equally.

[scar]

"What irks me is the lumping together of premium cigars and cigarettes all under the same 'tobacco laws'"

"I'm seriously thinking of visiting my local federal member to highlight this distinction between premium Cuban cigars and cigarettes.

They should not be taxed equally."

Smoke is smoke. From cigars or cigarettes it's all bad for you. If you chose to ignore them picking on their cigarettes, don't be mad when they target your cigars. Choice is choice. Not just your choice. Stick up for all rights, not just some rights, or next time someone will chose what's best for you.

[stigmata]

I am going to keep this short lest I loose some words that tarnish my sterling reputation <Sarcasm...

We are fighting hard on this. I cannot begin to explain how much this infuriates me. The key line to me is "But a 2009 law..." It seems this is yet another law that was passed by a Statist House, a Statist Senate and signed by a Statist President. The fight here in the States to retain even the semblance of freedom from overbearing regulations into every nook of our lives is real. For some reason, the left insists that there cannot be a single part of my life that the government doesn't have some say in.

I cannot for the life of me come up with a good reason other than they intend on taking it all the way to the Orwellian end. I fear for what this all means for my country, my family and future generations. I wonder if "We the people" will fight or if too many of us are finally too fat from living off the government teat that "We the people" can't even muster the motivation to act.

Scary times.

Not allowed to fight it.

You can't speak against it

Everybody is a neo liberal robot. No debate.. No argument!

Ridiculous with this nanny state political correctness that gets served up by social engineers telling each every individual what the perimeters of his her existence are

[joeruby]

Smoke is smoke. From cigars or cigarettes it's all bad for you. If you chose to ignore them picking on their cigarettes, don't be mad when they target your cigars. Choice is choice. Not just your choice. Stick up for all rights, not just some rights, or next time someone will chose what's best for you.

scar, I've never smoked cigarettes, and If you can't see the difference between cigars and addictive cigarettes..

Personally I find cigarette smell offensive and cigars aromatic,

I have got a choice as everyone does and choice is personal to everyone. Your statement. "Choice is choice. Not just your choice." doesn't even make sense.

I choose to smoke cigars not the other. Cigarette smokers can fight their own battles

By the way, thanks for highlighting whats bad for me. It cuts to the core of someone imposing there will, over others..

[scar]

scar, I've never smoked cigarettes, and If you can't see the difference between cigars and addictive cigarettes..

Personally I find cigarette smell offensive and cigars aromatic,

I have got a choice as everyone does and choice is personal to everyone. Your statement. "Choice is choice. Not just your choice." doesn't even make sense.

I choose to smoke cigars not the other. Cigarette smokers can fight their own battles

By the way, thanks for highlighting whats bad for me. It cuts to the core of someone imposing there will, over others..

I guess you are not getting my point. I think you should be free to do as you wish. If I don't like what you are doing I can stay away from you. That's not imposing my will over anyone. However you stated above that you are fine with banning smoking indoors and taxing cigarettes at a higher rate because it's something that doesn't matter to you. Well guess what our cigars don't matter to them. If we don't all stick together we are going to loose more freedom than we already have.

[shlomo]

It is a complex topic or rather people make it complex. There are certainly points to both sides. I think we are all a little biased on the forum as we are cigar smokers. I don't think that cigars should be smoked in many public places. I certainly wouldn't want to go back to the days of smoking indoors at restaurants. Even bars it is nice to not have smoking like it was in the 80s and early 90s. Exceptions to this are a smoking section of a patio and a smoking lounge (a no-brainer). A dedicated area in a bar is fine as long as it is blocked off like a smoking lounge in an airport.

People that work at these places should have a choice to work in a smoking section or not. If you are applying for a job in a smoking lounge and have a problem with smoke...well...

If smoking was banned on golf courses I would have to think of buying an island somewhere.

Agreed!

And the concept of choice is not real when it comes to choosing to work at a smoking establishment. Work is work, and many ppl, myself included, are thankful for the employment they have. If they would allow smoking at my job, sure I would look elsewhere, but I certainly cant just quit on the spot and expect to find another job the next day....how many bars n restos would revert back to smoking and drinking? In a heartbeat! The 2 go hand in hand, especially in colder climates, money talks, and cigarette smokers and sales add revenue to any business where social interaction is the purpose.

[shlomo]

Oh...welcome to the forum scar. Lol

[scar]

Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be here I think. LOL. Not trying to ruffle feathers, being the new guy and all, but I cant grasp the mindset that it's ok to regulate choices as long as it not my choice.

[suggs]

I cant grasp the mindset that it's ok to regulate choices as long as it not my choice.

What if your choice negatively impacts the ability of others to make a choice?

[scar]

I don't think i should be able to make choices that negatively impacts anyone. What in my posts makes you think that?

[suggs]

I don't think i should be able to make choices that negatively impacts anyone. What in my posts makes you think that?

Sorry, I believe I misread what you said that I previously quoted. Do you mean to point out the hypocrisy of people only supporting regulations that don't impact them?

[scar]

yes

[suggs]

Gotcha! I see, sorry for misreading what you've said!