The threat of plain packaging on cigars. - Action Required TODAY!

[TJ:01]

Sorted - had a small rant. Basically turned around and said I understand why you'd want plain packaging on cigarettes - but couldn't understand it for high end specialist products, which lets face it, cigars are!

[Vortigan]

Sorted - had a small rant. Basically turned around and said I understand why you'd want plain packaging on cigarettes - but couldn't understand it for high end specialist products, which lets face it, cigars are!

That's pretty much what I said too I guess we can but hope that the voice of reason will be heard.I just wonder what the tobacco nazis' planned next move is because they sure as hell won't be sated if and when they get their standardised packaging!

[JOAO LA PEZ]

Done.

[Stevieboy]

Done

Pointless rule as there's no way teens will start smoking ?15 smokes based on a pretty box! Fags maybe but not cigars..

[RogMcDodge]

Maybe they should stop painting Ferrari's and other luxury cars in bright colours - it may encourage people to want them and they may end up crashing it at 100mph into a wall.

[Vortigan]

Maybe they should stop painting Ferrari's and other luxury cars in bright colours - it may encourage people to want them and they may end up crashing it at 100mph into a wall.

Right!

[Dherm]

Maybe they should stop painting Ferrari's and other luxury cars in bright colours - it may encourage people to want them and they may end up crashing it at 100mph into a wall.

Spot on!

[tippexx]

Just a small point. Unlike cigarettes which are put into bins over or above a counter and sold un-opened top one first and the stack re-filled as need be. Cigars are a little different, they're sold open and the contents presented to the customer for selection or passing. If in a few years boxes are to be blank and the smokes un-banded, no matter how well organised the retailer sooner or later boxes be replaced incorrectly and confusions will be inevitable .... some expensive ones too.

[Vortigan]

Just a small point. Unlike cigarettes which are put into bins over or above a counter and sold un-opened top one first and the stack re-filled as need be. Cigars are a little different, they're sold open and the contents presented to the customer for selection or passing. If in a few years boxes are to be blank and the smokes un-banded, no matter how well organised the retailer sooner or later boxes be replaced incorrectly and confusions will be inevitable .... some expensive ones too.

What a good point this is! I suppose we're yet to see how this will all pan out and so we will doubtless all speculate,but this seems to me to a very realistic and damned awful possibility!

[Jacobwaits]

Done

[tippexx]

Think I heard that habanos will not provide plain packaging, was in relation to Australia plain package laws. The consultation says that only plain packaging and government health stickers, so no seals.

And so?

1) Habansos will supply to H&F in regular packaging for H&F to remove and put into white cardboard boxes?
2) Habanos will supply in crates of matched bundles for H&F to put into white cardboard boxes?

Several things evident in either scenario. Loads of scope for error at the Cuban end and in the UK. Extra work and packaging costs for Hunter & Frankau which will have to be transferred into the end costs.

Also, dress boxes aside, what about the SLBs and Cabs. This is purpose packaging designed to assist fermenting and ageing, and currently all are branded. Do H&F intend to produce plain cedarply packaging to replace these or is the ageing/careing concept to go out the window in white cardboard too?

[tippexx]

AN IDEA.

Rather than fighting the buggers why no go along with the proposal .... but with a compromise.

All packaging from Habanos supplied into the UK in the usual way. Branded, Seal, Warranty and without the Health stickers. To comply with the proposed regulations all boxes are slipped into a thin white cardboard sleeve and the Health stickers applied and with a small rubber stamp and light grey ink .... CoEsp12 for simple identification and retail storage.

Voila! Job done, everyones happy.

[RogMcDodge]

AN IDEA.

Rather than fighting the buggers why no go along with the proposal .... but with a compromise.

All packaging from Habanos supplied into the UK in the usual way. Branded, Seal, Warranty and without the Health stickers. To comply with the proposed regulations all boxes are slipped into a thin white cardboard sleeve and the Health stickers applied.

Voila! Job done, everyones happy.

I thought that yesterday, that surely would comply with any rules?

[molecularstudent]

Its quite amazing to me that Cigars aren't treated differently to cigarettes. It is the same in New Zealand...tabacco products are taxed heavily while cigars contribute little to the overall health bill. There are numerous scientific studies which show that cigars are no where near as bad for you as cigarettes. In fact, someone who does not inhale cigar smoke, and smokes just 1-2 cigars a day is statistically no different than a non-smoker in terms of obtaining cancer and related smoking diseases.
Although I don't smoke any longer, and so plain packaging is unlikely to affect me, I take issue with governments taking away a companies branding. While it is a well known fact that smoking is bad for you, the cigarette companies have spent many years on their branding and to infringe upon that is wrong in my opinion. I certainly wouldn't like it if I had a well known business and all of a sudden my branding was taken away, all that money I spent on advertising and brand awareness being striped away from me. I would feel as though I couldn't compete anymore.
Also, where does it stop? Ok, cigarettes cost the economy a lot of money, and it is my understanding that in most countries the tax on cigarettes doesn't quite cover the health costs associated. So I understand the need to reduce the number of smokers. But the second biggest killer is obesity. While there is still a lot of debate as to which foods are bad for you and in which combinations, can you imagine a world where the isles of your supermarket are stacked with white packages? I don't want to live in this world. But I do think that if you are going to target a demographic, then you should at least tackle the top three killers....or something. Or just simply leave us alone.
It is my view that community efforts, subsidised nicotine replacement therapy, higher cigarette tax, and pushing for it to be less socially accepted are all good initiatives. There are plenty of companies whose products are no good for us but you can't just target a few with ridiculous policies. Plus it is my choice whether I want to smoke, and eat whatever I want.
Back to my original point. Cigars are different to cigarettes and should be treated accordingly. They are an occasional pleasure, a bit like a Big Mac for the most of us.

[tippexx]

I certainly wouldn't like it if I had a well known business and all of a sudden my branding was taken away, all that money I spent on advertising and brand awareness being striped away from me. I would feel as though I couldn't compete anymore.

The primary purpose of packaging is identification of content, but I agree with what you're saying.

And, taking things a step further, alcohol usage is also under attack. Imagine Tesco's wine aisles filled with bottles all the same shape and colour but with plain white labels, or beer cans in un-printed aluminium.