PLAIN PACKAGING COMMENCES IN SINGAPUR

[El Presidente]

December 14, 2022 Samuel Spurr

Singapore has enacted stringent plain packaging regulations following similar legislation in Australia and Ireland, among other countries.

Since July 1, Singapore’s legislation dictates that plain packaging must occur before cigars arrive in the country. Retailers must now request distributors or manufacturers to fulfill plain packaging requirements on their behalf. Consumers buying online will be impacted as their purchases must also comply with plain packaging regulations. 

CONTINUED

[rolaand]

Is there a good argument for plain packaging or just people/govs being silly?

[SGD316]

It's less attractive to kids because I know lots of teenagers who smoke cigars /s 

This is also going to be a problem for authentication purposes now in these regions. 

[SCgarman]

11 minutes ago, SGD316 said:

It's less attractive to kids because I know lots of teenagers who smoke cigars /s 

This is also going to be a problem for authentication purposes now in these regions. 

Yup. Every teenager that has $500 in his pocket is looking to locate a box of Monte#2's 🤪

[benfica_77]

It's a reminder to save your boxes if you can intact just in case you live in a plain packaging country you can then just put them in a proper box after.  

 

[Jamie117]

The last part is interesting. We have the same plain packaging laws here in NZ, but they've never removed the factory packaging when I've imported cigars myself (even when they've been opened to be weighed and taxed). Retailers often do get the factory packaging also

[cigaraholic]

That picture of Julieta on my first box was all it took to get me hooked🧟‍♀️

[GoodStix]

f-ing nanny state strikes again

[BrightonCorgi]

Do you have to carry the cigars in a sealed bag like Kopi C walking down the street?

[rolaand]

Do you have to carry the cigars in a sealed bag like Kopi C walking down the street?

You have to smoke it in a small paper bag like an alcoholic beverage on public transport.

[ha_banos]

Look. As this spreads the Cohiba brigade will wade in with their money and all will be put right again. No more plain packaging or uncouth stickers.

I mean I cant imagine any of Robs favorite politicians refusing a nice pair of 'gator shoes in order to vote for plain packaging on Cohiba. I know how neoliberal these politicians are, but money talks and we know it. So come on Coh'luminates! Get talking to your best mate politicians!

 

 

 

[SirVantes]

13 hours ago, rolaand said:

Is there a good argument for plain packaging or just people/govs being silly?

I have no proper data, and my sample size is 2, but the answer is Yes, provided:

1. plain packaging is combined with airtight customs enforcement, so that there is no way normally packaged cigars get into the country (legally).  

2. plain packaging is absolute ie. none of that "labels underneath the brown packaging" softcore nonsense.

Singapore has both of these, and based on the sample size of 2, has had 100% success in suppressing cigar smoking through plain packaging legislation.  Both individuals in the sample have been smoking CCs for 25+ years, and both have stopped buying since plain packaging came in - it was just the last straw.  One of these individuals has over 1,000 ELs in his stash, and price has never been a determining factor; plain packaging and its associated downsides for the enthusiast, was.   

 

[ha_banos]

2 hours ago, SirVantes said:

I have no proper data, and my sample size is 2, but the answer is Yes, provided:

1. plain packaging is combined with airtight customs enforcement, so that there is no way normally packaged cigars get into the country (legally).  

2. plain packaging is absolute ie. none of that "labels underneath the brown packaging" softcore nonsense.

Singapore has both of these, and based on the sample size of 2, has had 100% success in suppressing cigar smoking through plain packaging legislation.  Both individuals in the sample have been smoking CCs for 25+ years, and both have stopped buying since plain packaging came in - it was just the last straw.  One of these individuals has over 1,000 ELs in his stash, and price has never been a determining factor; plain packaging and its associated downsides for the enthusiast, was.   

 

Has suppressed purchasing locally. Not suppressed smoking I hasten to challenge.

[BrightonCorgi]

47 minutes ago, ha_banos said:

Has suppressed purchasing locally. Not suppressed smoking I hasten to challenge.

I always get nervous entering Singapore with a dozen or so loose cigars to smoke while I am there.  Cannot imagine going through customs with sealed boxes.

[Bigkahuna]

This is interesting. So for a brand such as opus X with gold lettering on the cello: will the intermediary be required to remove each cigar and re-cello them with plain cello, no bands etc ? What about decorative collectors boxes like some HSA offerings ? 
 

[Corylax18]

3 hours ago, SirVantes said:

One of these individuals has over 1,000 ELs in his stash, and price has never been a determining factor; plain packaging and its associated downsides for the enthusiast, was.

So we have a buyer here (or two) who bought bands, and prestige, not cigars. They sound more like an "Instafluencer" than a cigar smoker to me. I'm perfectly happy with this buyer(s) leaving the market. Overjoyed actually. People who actually smoke cigars will all be better off as this type of buyer leaves the market. (for whatever reason) 

I prefer my cigars completely naked. Paper and gold leaf tastes like shit when you smoke it. Anything more than the below is just a waste of resources and marketing budget.

[Edicion]

Not sure if this has been said but nothing stopping import of empty boxes with accompanying cigar bands. And I bet prices for empty boxes and bands will increase and there will be a secondary market for both in many countries like this.

I am not even joking, sadly!

[helix]

Counterfeiters dream come true.

[BrightonCorgi]

At one point in Singapore, you couldn't sell cigars in their boxes, they needed to be displayed outside of their box.  That changed, but this new law is like four steps in the wrong direction.

[Bigkahuna]

Will they do the same with alcohol? 
-shrug- 

[Simon_Templar]

On 12/16/2022 at 4:31 AM, BrightonCorgi said:

At one point in Singapore, you couldn't sell cigars in their boxes, they needed to be displayed outside of their box.  That changed, but this new law is like four steps in the wrong direction.

That's correct: because of the plain packaging rule, the retailer can't give you the box when you buy a box of cigars: but only the cigars in "plain packaging" and given to you in a carton box with all the health warnings etc..

On 12/16/2022 at 1:20 AM, Edicion said:

Not sure if this has been said but nothing stopping import of empty boxes with accompanying cigar bands. And I bet prices for empty boxes and bands will increase and there will be a secondary market for both in many countries like this.

I am not even joking, sadly!

sadly it is the case..this plain packaging rule is in place since 1 July 2020 in Singapore actually (and not 2022)..

people are selling empty boxes of Cohibas at 50$ 😲..haven't seen bands on sale yet however..

On 12/16/2022 at 12:26 AM, Bigkahuna said:

This is interesting. So for a brand such as opus X with gold lettering on the cello: will the intermediary be required to remove each cigar and re-cello them with plain cello, no bands etc ? What about decorative collectors boxes like some HSA offerings ? 
 

that's correct..if not customs sends it back to the sender..the boxes are fine the moment there's no tobacco in it..been living with that for 2+ years now..

[BrightonCorgi]

16 hours ago, Bigkahuna said:

Will they do the same with alcohol? 
-shrug- 

They'd like to.  Booze and gambling is looked down by the Singapore government.  I don't think Singapore citizens can even go into the Sands casino.

[SingleBarrel]

On 12/14/2022 at 5:55 PM, SCgarman said:

Yup. Every teenager that has $500 in his pocket is looking to locate a box of Monte#2's 🤪

I’ve got a teenager that has 15k of old world tobacco in his humidor. They’re out there😆