Holiday Time and Long Ashes by Frank Seltzer
While everyone is looking to the holidays, the government is still trying to take stuff away from you….grinches that they are.
I am from the Government and here to help
You no doubt have heard of the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation last week for banning all cell phone use while driving. Fortunately, the board has no real power but no matter states will probably consider the report. What does this have to do with cigars? Well in reality it is the same kind of science.
Radley Balko of Reason magazine writes the reason for stuff like this is TOBAL-itis (There Ought To Be A Law). With Congress, many state legislatures and city councils meeting year round, they feel there is a need to pass laws even if the law is not needed. The cell phone ban is stupid on its face. Usage of cell phones has gone up 8 times since 1995, yet the number of traffic fatalities has dropped. Hmmm. And like smoking, there are even studies that discredit the “cell phones cause accidents” myth but those studies are ignored.
But much like second hand smoke, this will probably gain some traction around the country. Why? Because localities can fine you for using the phone and that makes them money.
Don’t bother with facts my mind is made up
Maybe I do not understand research. I thought the idea was to go out and collect the data and then let that determine what the results are. Guess not. Well I shouldn’t be surprised, most research on smoking “proves” tobacco is evil. But now the CDC Foundation is stepping up the game.
The CDC Foundation was set up by Congress to help the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tap into private money for implementing its agenda. So it is no real surprise that the CDC Foundation recently announced a new study to be funded by pharmaceutical maker Pfizer to look into the economic impact of smoking band. From the release:
“While the health benefits of smoke-free policies are clear, the perception that they might negatively affect restaurant and bar business can pose a barrier to the broader introduction and acceptance of these policies.”
Yeah perception…we can look at the facts and see there are definite impacts on the economy from smoking bans, JonathanTomlin wrote in Forbes two years ago about most of the “studies”
But there is one major problem. Upon further inspection, previous studies do not, on the whole, demonstrate that smoking bans don’t harm bars and restaurants. In fact, appropriately done studies and basic economic logic demonstrate that they often do.
Tomlin goes on to talk about his study of India and its smoking ban. He notes
“To be sure, it is also a possibility that any ban will lower smoking patrons’ demand for the services of bars, restaurants and gaming establishments where smoking is not permitted. Basic economic theory maintains that such lower demand could lower the profits of any bar or restaurant subject to such a ban.”
But have no fear, the new CDC report will be an independent study and the data will give us the answers. Not so much. While Pfizer promises an objective study, the CDC’s comment in the release gives away the game.
“Making worksites, restaurants, and bars smoke-free saves lives, increases productivity, reduces health care costs, and doesn’t hurt business,” said CDC director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
Doesn’t hurt business…then why do the study? By the way if you don’t know Pfizer makes Chantix a drug designed to help stop smoking. No conflict of interest there right? I am sure the Pfizer study will be objective and not designed to help sell more of their drug.
This announcement is even too much for tobacco control advocate Dr. Michael Siegel who agrees the CDC has the answer before doing the study.
Do it for the kids
Speaking of don’t let the facts get in the way of more restrictions… on Thursday 5 Senators wrote to the FDA saying it needs to regulate cigars, specifically flavored cigars now. These nannys say more than 13 million Americans smoke cigars (well then we should get about 13 million people on our petitions right?) and that number includes an estimated 1.8 million high schoolers and 475,000 middle school students.
They go onto say:
“Cigar smoking is linked to cancers of the lung, mouth, throat and esophagus.”
Yup it sure is, but then again so is HPV…are they for banning sex too? I tell ya they just won’t stop until the control everything and going after flavored cigars is the first step.
The folks over at the Libertarian Reason’s Hit and Run blog have noticed the efforts being put into Capitol Hill by the C-R-A and the IPCPR.
As Jacob Sullum notes the FDA control could even ban mail ordered cigars! The rationale he says is:
“The FDA also could ban online sales of cigars in the name of preventing minors from buying them—about as plausible a scenario as teenagers getting drunk on boutique Cabernet they order from an out-of-state winery.”
Be sure you get involved either through the Cigar Rights of America or the IPCPR websites. Let your Senators and Representatives know you smoke AND vote.
Longest Ash
Cigar Aficionado and H. Upmann are holding a contest for the longest ash. Details are found here. The deal is smoke an H Upmann and see how long your ash can get take a photo and submit it.
My suggestion would be to get the longest H Upmann you can find. Like the Chairman’s Reserve double corona which measures 7×50. Or you could go with the Connoisseur Cabinet at 7 x 52.
If you are a little daring, there is the |Upmann sungrown lancero which is 7.5 inches x 40.
The winner gets a box of H. Upmann, a year’s subscription to CA, may be featured in an H. Upmann ad and gets 2 tickets to the Big Smoke in either Vegas or NYC. The contest ends January 25, 2012, Good luck.
