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Wednesday, 14th November 2007

Neil Clark says cigar smokers are leading the fight for smoker’s rights

For British lovers of La Diva Nicotina, 1 July 2007 was a black day indeed. The government’s draconian ban on smoking in enclosed public places was a blow to all puffers, but perhaps for Britain’s 800,000 cigar smokers its impact has been worst of all.

Popping outside for a quick Marlboro Light on the pavement is one thing, smoking a Montecristo Especial No. 1 in such circumstances is something else altogether. Cigars are meant to be savoured, not rushed: something which the ban makes almost impossible outside of one’s own home. Gentlemen’s clubs have been badly hit. ‘The ban has completely changed club culture as the post-prandial smoke is no longer to be enjoyed. I think it makes it much more difficult to really get to know someone,’ bemoans Piers Russell-Cobb, managing director of Media Fund. For female cigar smokers, the situation is even worse. ‘In the past I’ve had to get used to the fact that some people see cigar smoking as unfeminine,’ says Sallyann Everett, a tobacconist. ‘Now, I’m worried that whenever I light a cigar I might be committing a crime. The ban has made me feel paranoid.’

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Tony Blows

November 15th, 2007 9:09am

we at freedom2choose.info have been saying the same things from well before this unlawful ban came to force, in the biggest poll of its kind in the UK 71% of people asked did not want an all out ban but yet again this dictatorship called government egnored the english peoples views. there are 16 million smokers in this country that can all vote only UKIP are supporting the smoker. so watch out at the next election Brown and the others your fate is sealed.

Frederique

November 15th, 2007 9:45am

The gouvernement have made it clear many years ago That women do not pick man in the street... My parent made it clear a lady do not smoke in the street. Now Gouvernement want me to got in the street to smoke and be able to be agress because i am not protect.When i come back home with my daughter what a nice image she look at people in the street smoking and drinking and having fun so that what she is going to associeted when she grow-up! I do not smoke cigare anymore because i cannot stand up in the street for half hours like a hoocker. Some people can and find this new thing call "smurffing" being funny but i feel like an hoocker unscecure...etc I am 45 Women we have stand up in this world for be look at with respect and now gouvernements are send us in the street if we want to have a cigare or a cigarette and a drink.... as well as our friends not smoker because as they respect us,they want to carry the conversation with us.... Or close our self home.... Women stand up for your right to have to be respect, considere, and be able to be in safe place to be protect as it was since ..... But not in those boxe who look more like getto to me. Meet us at Freedom2choose.info or sleepwalkprison.com

John

November 15th, 2007 3:53pm

Why oh why couldn't the government come up with a reasonable compromise solution as they have in other European countries rather than this puritanical blanket ban that will close so many pubs and has just made life more miserable. Labour will suffer at the next election for this shameful piece of clumsy legislation.

Greg Burrows

November 16th, 2007 12:26am

HSE 255/15 confirms there was no need for a smoking ban and this is social engineering, nothing else. SCOTH review 2004 confirms this stating that most independant studies show that there is no evidence.

Rex Hatherley

November 19th, 2007 6:47am

"Bully State" is a fair comment. No one can still justify the mild "Nanny State" when we see the stealthy creep into bullying the public on obesity, alcohol consumption (what next, one wonders?). What has happened to the concept of privacy and self-determination? I dread my next visit "home" to England.

Neil E Dunn

November 19th, 2007 9:19am

Smoking, along with other legal but maybe less desirable adult activities belongs INSIDE adult venues not outside where laughter & camaraderie become attractive for impressionable young people. Only the most blinkered bullies could think this ban is an effective way to reduce smoking prevalence. All recreation venues should be able to declare themselves smoke-friendly or smoke-free even cafes where the most vulnerable, our older citizens, no longer enjoy a cup of tea with friends after shopping. The destruction of jobs and businesses, the loss of recreation venues, damage to the environment and communities, the promotion of isolation and depression are the real costs of this legislation yet our politicians still believe anti-smoking propaganda and lies.

Colin Spalding

November 20th, 2007 10:43pm

The only good news following the ban is that sales of nicotine patches etc are up 180%.The pharmaceutical industry funded the ban campaign and now they are reaping the rewards.

brendan

November 21st, 2007 9:22am

Please keep up the fight against the bully state smoking ban, the fight has gone out of the irish people as 99% complied so readily and fell for the massive brainwashing campaign, nobody seems to care that over 1000 pubs have closed and like our dismal health service its the old people who are suffering most, hence the publication of 'The book of poor ould fellas' by Declan Lynch depicting how the smoking ban affects the older people in rural ireland in particular, and it was gratifying to see that it was a top 10 seller in ireland.

Michael J. McFadden

May 7th, 2008 9:18pm

If you'd like to see the sort of lies that the UK bans were based on, and see the analysis sent to government officials before they voted and which they chose to ignore, visit http://pasan.TheTruthIsALie.com and click on "The Welsh Critique". = - = Michael J. McFadden = - = Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains" = - = Michael J. McFadden
Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"
http://encyclopedia.smokersclub.com/130.html

Mark Harrop

May 11th, 2008 12:46pm

As per usual our cowardly political class cite Europe and then claim innocence yet the UK opts out of all manner of things european when it suits. On top of this the Govt and its cronies have been downright sneaky in their approach to the ban by getting us all to be fearful of anonymous killjoy snoops - some people ought get proper jobs and be told to butt out!

The ban was brought in on the back of a pack of lies and with huge propaganda - paid out of our taxes and heavily punitive in it's action. Given that it's lies and undemocratic - some two thirds against an outright ban - then it needs overturning while we still have a social life.

Already there are moves afoot to remove Cigarette sales from public view and on the back of that the removal of smoking in public. Unless we do something about it . . .

A good place to start - www.freedom2choose.info


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