SMOKE FREE ONTARIO - Tobacco Display Ban

[DonnieW]

Here's the official verbiage:

"Effective May 31, 2008 s. 3.1(2) of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act requires that:

No person shall display or permit the display of tobacco products in any place where tobacco products are sold or offered for sale in any manner that will permit a consumer to view any tobacco product before purchasing the tobacco."

Anyone local to Ontario is well aware of this, you can't walk into a store and not notice that all smokes are in closed cabinets - frankly its an eyesore. What most (including our American visitors) didn't realize is that this display ban significantly affects the cigar aficionados. Guess what? We can no longer walk into a humidor - instead you must know what you want or will need to pick from a catalog!! Granted there are exceptions for establishments that sell cigars/tobacco exclusively, but those places are few and far between. No longer can we hand pick and inspect our investments (whether short or long term)

I know the spirit of the ban is to curb youth from being brand-influenced or otherwise having an easy time picking out a pack, but this has unfortunately had a negative effect on the responsible cigar smokers - many of which are on this forum I'm sure.

[Fullycanvassed]

It's a pain in the ass, and frankly it won't really do anything since underage smokers get their tobacco through other means - they aren't dumb enough to walk into a store by themselves. Hell I bought my first cigarettes at 19, and they were behind the counter, and I was so dead set on buying smokes that curtains wouldn't have deterred me either way.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe B&M cigar shops are affected by this, which is where most cigar smokers purchase from anyway. Granted the internet is always cheaper for smokes, and the taxes are so ridiculously high in B&Ms, it's only a matter of time before all retailers start dying a slow death. My .

[DonnieW]

Originally Posted by Fullycanvassed

It's a pain in the ass, and frankly it won't really do anything since underage smokers get their tobacco through other means - they aren't dumb enough to walk into a store by themselves. Hell I bought my first cigarettes at 19, and they were behind the counter, and I was so dead set on buying smokes that curtains wouldn't have deterred me either way.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe B&M cigar shops are affected by this, which is where most cigar smokers purchase from anyway. Granted the internet is always cheaper for smokes, and the taxes are so ridiculously high in B&Ms, it's only a matter of time before all retailers start dying a slow death. My .

Totally agree, retailers are feeling the pinch. That's disappointing because part of the enjoyment in this hobby/passion is visiting your shop and picking out some sticks. Even though the B&M's are priced much higher than can be found online - I still enjoyed chatting it up with the owners and glancing over the fine goods.

[shaggy]

actual cigar shops are exempt from this. the cigar shop has a different license...a tobbacanist...and they will continue business as usual. this does come into play with convience stores that have/had a cabnet humi with some sticks in it. the ones i have seen that still have them simply papered the inside of the glass. doesnt make a difference to me as i get my ciggarettes from the reservation and cigars online for the most part.

[DonnieW]

Originally Posted by shaggy

actual cigar shops are exempt from this. the cigar shop has a different license...a tobbacanist...and they will continue business as usual. this does come into play with convience stores that have/had a cabnet humi with some sticks in it. the ones i have seen that still have them simply papered the inside of the glass. doesnt make a difference to me as i get my ciggarettes from the reservation and cigars online for the most part.

Correct, one must be a licensed tobacconist. Unfortunately, that's not without its own problems. A tobacconist must make upwards of 90% of their income from tobacco products - hence why convenience stores and the small shops within grocery stores are now screwed. Shops like Hemingway’s used to do good business in both cigars and gifts (non-tobacco). Unfortunately they've had to terminate sales of the non-tobacco products to continue as a tobacconist - this means less income to float. The four or five big (I use that loosely) cigar shops in the GTA are all trying to sell their businesses because they're hurting so bad. I fundamentally disagree with the way a tobacconist is forced to run. Geez, they can't even have a smoking lounge anymore! On the positive side, as a tobacconist, they are legally entitled to advertise on the web - the same cannot be said for the others. This may mean our favorite shop moves exclusively online??
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]

[DonnieW]

Originally Posted by DonnieW

...This may mean our favorite shop moves exclusively online??

Oh, but wait... it's illegal to sell and ship cigars on-line in Ontario. I see the end of cigar shops in Ontario.

[shaggy]

Originally Posted by DonnieW

Correct, one must be a licensed tobacconist. Unfortunately, that's not without its own problems. A tobacconist must make upwards of 90% of their income from tobacco products - hence why convenience stores and the small shops within grocery stores are now screwed. Shops like Hemingway’s used to do good business in both cigars and gifts (non-tobacco). Unfortunately they've had to terminate sales of the non-tobacco products to continue as a tobacconist - this means less income to float. The four or five big (I use that loosely) cigar shops in the GTA are all trying to sell their businesses because they're hurting so bad. I fundamentally disagree with the way a tobacconist is forced to run. Geez, they can't even have a smoking lounge anymore! On the positive side, as a tobacconist, they are legally entitled to advertise on the web - the same cannot be said for the others. This may mean our favorite shop moves exclusively online??
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]

is this the case??? i havent been over to the local "holy smokes" lately but i was under the impression they had a separate license from the supermarket

[DonnieW]

Originally Posted by shaggy

is this the case??? i havent been over to the local "holy smokes" lately but i was under the impression they had a separate license from the supermarket

Nah, they're inclusive to the store. You'll notice they share the same cashiers, etc. Stinks, because I really liked Holy Smokes. Their mgmt. instruction was to cater to the locals. That means every store would have a different selection. The unofficial-official deal is that they are all going to be turned into either wine kiosks or ??? I am in tight with the shops around the GTA, thus I felt the need to vent our mutual frustration with this less than thought out act.

Viva Native Indian Reserves

[shaggy]

i was sure the one near me specifically told me and pointed to a tobacanist license on the wall.....i am gonna have to go check it out now

[DonnieW]

Originally Posted by shaggy

i was sure the one near me specifically told me and pointed to a tobacanist license on the wall.....i am gonna have to go check it out now

Two things would need to be certain, one is that there couldn't be any access from the supermarket itself, and second, the humidor couldn't be viewable from outside. If thats the case, they may very well have leased the unit out, though I'm not aware of any units that are separated from the store. Holy Smokes is owned by a couple Jewish guys. I know at least one person who was very keen on buying Holy Smokes from them and moving the stores out to strip plazas. I'm sure they'd do better there. Besides, Holy Smokes is in contrast with the healthy/family image some of those supermarkets are trying to portray.

[Bear]

FWIW guys, there's always a silver lining... Now might be a good time to get to know your local convenience store owner and let him know that you might be in the market for a used cabinet. It can't be too long before these items will be viewed as just an other eyesore (they look terrible now) that is taking up their valuable square footage.
I approached the guy not too far from my place a few months ago to lay the groundwork. Who knows, there might be a great opportunity here for us.
It's unfortunate that the legislators have decided to take it too far once again here in Ontario and have imposed yet an other example "Nanny State" politics. Welcome to the True North Strong and (not so) Free...

[Moro]

I must say; this definetly portrays today's society thoughts on smoking: People who smoke cigarrettes never pick up an specific box... why should people do it any other way?

I feel yer pain, mates from Ontario.

[O-Danger]

And it's not just you, I walked into my local B&M and found that his walk in humi had one way glass now and all his smokes were in there as well (it's a pretty large humi and not really walk in as there are just wall cabnets but it is a seprate room none the less). Anyway Alberta was just hit on the first of this month. It is really odd to look behind the counters and see grey plastic covers. I agree that the end to convenince stores selling cigars is comming to an end as it is just too hard. I should start looking for sales

[ZedR2]

Remember this come election time !!

[replicant_argent]

More ridiculous Nanny-Statism.
Whether you are a province, a state, a protectorate, a nation, a city, county, or parrish, protection of anyone from simply viewing a product of any type, unless lewd, is an abomination to the tenets of good taste, logic, and common sense.

I propose 12 foot high fences around all cattle pastures, to protect vegetarians from the possible insult of the idea of fat laden meat being thrust upon them, as well as the serious documentation of anyone purchasing paint brushes, lest they somehow paint something provocative, leading any person, short or tall, thin or fat, intelligent or moronic, to the path that may lead them to inevitable thought, relaxation, or the perusal of their pleasures through any means that may possibly offend those thin-skinned malcontents who find it their mission to fill the world with hypocritical nonsense.