The Stogie Guys

We often rail against smoking bans via abstract concepts like liberty, personal responsibility, property rights, and freedom, but sometimes an anecdote does an even better job of highlighting the absurdity of such Draconian laws.

I’m writing to you from California, home of one of the first statewide smoking bans for bars and restaurants. During a visit to one of the Golden State’s many bars, a friend lit up a cigarette in violation of the ban.

All the other patrons (there were only three not in our party) were fine with her smoking. But when the bartender (the only employee at the time) saw her smoking he ran over, grabbed the cigarette, and put it outside.

Did he not want to be exposed to second hand smoke or was he trying to protect the other patrons (all of whom approved of the smoking in their presence) from the cigarette smoke? No, that was not his objection at all.

When I asked him later he said he didn’t mind the smoking, but that he was scared if the police saw someone smoking in the bar he would get a $6,000 fine.

So there you have it. Every single person in the bar – all adults over 21 – consented to the smoking. Only the bartender objected, but only because he was scared of the government bursting though the door.Can there be any justification for police handing out excessive fines when there is no one to protect?

Of course not. But in California, and the many states and cities with senseless smoking bans, this type of scene plays out everyday. And when you see it firsthand it reminds you that the harm done by smoking bans isn’t solely abstract.

–Patrick S

Tags: Cigars

When I worked at USA Today, one of the principles about which we had no doubt was that people like lists. They’re succinct, accessible, and often entertaining.

So, in that spirit, here’s a list of five “Don’ts” for cigar smokers.

1. Don’t buy a box too quickly. This is particularly true for new releases. Smoke a few over time to make sure the quality is consistent. It’s better to miss some “great deals” than to be stuck with boxes of cigars you don’t like.

2. Don’t confuse aging with magic. Keeping a lousy cigar in your humidor is just going to turn it into an older, lousy cigar. Unfortunately, Spanish cedar isn’t the philosopher’s stone.

3. Don’t pay attention to sales hype. Ignore it all, particularly when retailers tout some incredible buy or neglected stash they stumbled across in a factory. Do you honestly think cigar manufacturers don’t know how to run their businesses? Or that appropriating the name of an ancient Cuban brand makes any difference?

4. Don’t forget what you like and dislike. It’s not necessary to become an expert in the world’s tobaccos. But if, for example, you’ve really enjoyed several Cameroon-wrapped cigars, you’ll increase your chances for success with a new stick if you look for another Cameroon.

5. Don’t rush your smoke. In our speed-obsessed culture, cigars provide a rare opportunity to slow down. In the end, you’re probably better to skip a smoke than to try to squeeze one in when you can’t give it sufficient time.

Feel free to share your own cigar “Don’ts” with StogieGuys.com readers as comments below.

–George E

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

Switzerland-based Avo makes some fine cigars, but this isn’t one of them. While the burn, draw, and ash are solid, the Connecticut wrapper and Dominican filler tobaccos leave much to be desired in the flavor department. What taste this mild $6 stick does produce is largely unpleasant: heavy traces of salt and chemical notes. I’ll be staying away from these in the future, and I suggest you do the same.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars