So what does plain packaging look like?

[El Presidente]

Let's face it peoples, if you are in the EU or Canada it is not too far away..2 years, 5 years but it will arrive.

So what will a box of Monte Petit Edmundo look like ....very much like this if you are purchasing through a B&M.

Ok so you are appalled. That is the easy part.

what advice would you give to Habanos? In the end they have to meet the laws.

Personally, I say go retro. JJ Fox seleccion series, no bands, great quality.

What advice would you give however. Thing glass half full here. wet blankets piss off.

yes habanos do read.

El Pres.

[Rye]

At the rate our taxes are increasing, I think the B&M's here will soon stock nothing but bongs and E-cigs, but no bands would be better than the green crap.

[Dmatzkin]

Noooooooooo!!!! Hahahahah

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[TiminBC]

Bands are nice but the cigars is tobacco is the music. I really do not care what they do in Canada :}

PS. they can fake bands and packaging but they cannot fake reputation. No worries Rob

[polarbear]

Keep the empty boxes of cigars you smoke a lot of and when plain packaging hits remove the bands and transfer them into the empty boxes that still look nice

Buy a cheap label maker and scan all the bands of cigars you reguarly smoke, that way you can print paper versions.

[StingMeadery]

Are original bands physically removed or generic bands applied over to cover them?

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[El Presidente]

Are original bands physically removed or generic bands applied over to cover them?

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it is a cover....but to meet a strict "glue force"

[Pedro2486]

They still peel off fairly easily though.

Could the boxes ship with a thin veneer if wood inside. Like the first cedar layer. Put an adhesive backing on it and slap it on the front when you get the box

[paulF]

What happens with Stamps, stickers and box dates?!

[Stanislaw]

i consider myself a logical thinker but I simply do not understand the reasoning with them doing this. is the packaging the main reason why we smoke? what's their logic, other than to deter us from going anywhere near something that ugly? why not just have someone vomit on every box as they arrive off the boat from cuba?

do they really think that the larger they print these "warning labels" the more likely I'll actually read it? this is as insulting to our intelligence as those tiny warnings on car commercials at the bottom of the screen that state, "do not drive car off of cliff, will not fly"

oh, also, forgot to add: hey rob, I'll take a box of those please....

[PapaDisco]

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Hmmmm . . . What is it about that first pic that reminds me of an FOH Video Review? Can't quite put my finger on it . . . but something's familiar . . . Hmmmm.

Could HSA ship the traditional bands unattached inside the box? Trying to get these anti-smoking labels off is a major effort, extending it to the sticks is going to be a pain. If HSA had to go totally generic I wouldn't mind sticks with no band at all. Really old school. I'd miss the tradition of the artwork and decoration of course, but there's something seriously retro about unbanned cigars.

[gigabyte056]

i consider myself a logical thinker but I simply do not understand the reasoning with them doing this. is the packaging the main reason why we smoke? what's their logic, other than to deter us from going anywhere near something that ugly? why not just have someone vomit on every box as they arrive off the boat from cuba?

do they really think that the larger they print these "warning labels" the more likely I'll actually read it? this is as insulting to our intelligence as those tiny warnings on car commercials at the bottom of the screen that state, "do not drive car off of cliff, will not fly"

oh, also, forgot to add: hey rob, I'll take a box of those please....

First off something went gaga with my quote and am now replaying as the quote....

This is a government decision, reasoning does not come into the process.

This is the process:

We need to appear to do something about smoking.

This is something.

let's do that.

Same reasoning as:

all dogs have four legs

my cat has four legs.

therefore, my cat is a dog.

[kwsaw63]

I'd get rid of the bands for a start. As for the box I don't think there is much scope as the law doesn't seem to give you much leeway as to what else you can do.

[PapaDisco]

Maybe the bigger economic interests in the cigar industry should combine resources to further study that odd statistical anomaly in the surgeon generals report that demonstrated that light to moderate (1-5 cigars per day) cigar smokers lived longer than non-smokers?

[kwsaw63]

i consider myself a logical thinker but I simply do not understand the reasoning with them doing this. is the packaging the main reason why we smoke? what's their logic, other than to deter us from going anywhere near something that ugly? why not just have someone vomit on every box as they arrive off the boat from cuba?

do they really think that the larger they print these "warning labels" the more likely I'll actually read it? this is as insulting to our intelligence as those tiny warnings on car commercials at the bottom of the screen that state, "do not drive car off of cliff, will not fly"

Couldn't agree more. I really hate the "Nanny State" proponents that insist they know best and dictate what you can or can't do. We all know the dangers of smoking and if we choose to go ahead regardless who is the government to tell us "No".

I can buy the increased cost to healthcare argument, but the logical answer is to reduce/eliminate any subsidies to smokers for smoking related diseases; and not to try and scare/disgust the **** out of everyone.

[Stanislaw]

i agree as well regarding losing the bands.... but will that make it easier for people to question whether their sticks are authentic? i mean, imagine buying a box of robustos and they all taste like Juan Lopez but you swear you bought a box of bolivars....

i'd say perhaps revist different, more drastic shapes but other than that, this seems like one of those "hands are tied" kind of things...

Rob, will future boxes from the online store come this way? i suggested to Diana that, if ever I ended up with a box that had those graphic stickers of tumors on it, that she needs to replace all of those with random pics of you guys in the office.... think that might have to be taken into serious consideration....

[polarbear]

Prez, What if HSA shipped all boxes with carboard outers like they do with some RE's and EL's

Could you put the pictures on the carbourd outer and leave the dress box inside unmolested?

Most Aus retailers I've bought singles from remove the gov approved bands when you pay for them, revealing the traditional band.

I have had some cigars that had wrapper damage thanks to heavy handed retailers damaging the cigars trying to remove the traditional bands before fitting the new ones (I'm not talking about Czar, obviously)

[Habana Mike]

All nondescript wooden cabs, unbanded, only one Vitola per Marca, Eliminate anything over 48RG. RE/LE/etc. goes by the wayside.

One of each Vitola de Galera true to that Marca's blend, even if needing to add additional Marcas.

At least then you'd maybe know what you were pulling from the humidor.

[Blakes]

Maybe have the brand logo/box code info etc.. stamped on the inside of the lid, so the outer is a plain wooden box with just the side stamp.

If they could come in an outer cardboard box that has all the warnings on like 898/LGC boxes.

[Trevor2118]

what advice would you give to Habanos? In the end they have to meet the laws.

Personally, I say go retro. JJ Fox seleccion series, no bands, great quality.

Cabinets (slide lid boxes) with no bands.

[headstand]

Cabinets (slide lid boxes) with no bands.

Ditto.

[potpest]

The SLB is pretty much plain packaging anyway, Remove the bands, put a nice browny/green ribbon around the cigars and print the brand name on the ribbon, job done. Oh and supply each box with a sheet of sandpaper for removing all trace of those awful stickers.

[Fuzz]

What is the rule for SLBs? I mean, all other packaging mus(cigarette cartons, tins, dress boxes, etc) must be drab green, but what about wooden boxes? Are they supposed to have a drab green cardboard outer sleeve, stickers all over it, or even painted drab green with stickers? The guidelines I've read do not mention anything relating to this.

How about HSA manufactures a range of stickers to be given away for free with every purchase (the law prohibits retail sale of non-compliant packaging, not stickers given away for free!). The stickers are not supplied inside the boxes (as that's against the law), but given out "on request" . Just wrap around the boxes and cover up all the useless crap.

[scottm12]

Agree with Polarbear,

Don't most Cohiba boxes come with the outer cardboard packaging. Cover that with the ugly green labels and anti smoking signs. Then the customer can can take that home and pull out there original standard box. Bands… just looks like more expense to cover them than just going band less.

[Tino]

There's a logical, terrifying end game to all this green...