Just when you think it cannot get any worse, the anti-smoking Gestapo advances to the next level of assault.

What could be more polically incorrect than discrimination?

More importantly, what could simply be more wrong?

Yet despite the obvious lessons of history and morality against discrimination, the European Union has now clearly established the legality of discrimination under their regime.

Companies in the European Union may legally refuse to hire smokers because EU anti-discrimination laws do not protect them, the European Commission has said. And it doesn’t end there.

This one surprised me. I think it will surprise you too, because the implications and explicit statements of EU officials did not stop with discrimination against smokers.

The full story unfolds below the fold.

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“If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law.”
Sir Winston Churchill

As he had promised, Mel Smith became the first performer at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival to openly defy Scotland’s draconian smoking ban yesterday.

The defiance was short-lived.

The comedian, who is playing Winston Churchill in the play Allegiance, ostentatiously lit and puffed on a cigar onstage while In full Winston Churchill costume at a photocall in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms. He ignored calls from his producer not to light up and vented his fury at the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act of 2005, which came into force in March.

He suggested that the audience could be warned before the show: “A third of a Romeo y Julieta will be smoked during this performance. If you find that offensive, f*** off.”

That is the good news in the global war against the New Prohibition movement. I wish that I could simply stop there and allow you to bask in the warm glow of victory.

That is not how things ended, unfortunately.

More details from sources at BBC News, the Sunday Times, and other sources below the fold.

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Under the heading of, “See, I told you so,” I bring news of the next step in the global fundamentalist movement toward Prohibition. On the heels of the anti-smoking controversy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scottish legislators now going after alcohol.

No Scotch in Scotland?

Impossible?

No.

The first steps have been taken, and they are following the pattern used to successfully ban smoking as their playbook. The details are below the fold.

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From Reuters comes word of yet another slide down the slope to a New Prohibition. As predicted back when Westin became the first hotel chain to go smoke-free, another major chain has decided to close their doors to smokers.

The Marriott Corporation, whose properties include the Marriott and J.W. Marriott hotels, the Renaissance and Ritz-Carlton hotel chains, and Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inns, Fairfield Inns, SpringHill Suites, and TownePlace Suites, has jumped on the anti-smoking bandwagon. Beginning in September, they will have a strict “no smoking” policy.

This isn’t just a smoking ban for hotel rooms, however.

This time it is a ban against smoking anywhere on the premises of any Marriott property. The total ban forbids smoking in bars, restaurants, meeting rooms and other public places in all Marriott hotels. Light up anywhere on their property, and they will fine you a minimum of U.S. $200.00.

Strangely enough, while smokers are now completely unwelcome at Marriott hotels and resorts, the chain appears to have no problems with opening their doors to terrorist groups and neo-nazis.

The strange story of…oh, let’s call it “Smoking and Nazis and Terrorists — Oh My!” unfolds after the jump.

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When you think of July 4th in the United States, the number 13 might come to mind.

The 13 original colonies and the War for Independence?

Thirteen stars in a circle on the legendary first U.S. flag Betsy Ross sewed?

Liberty?

Freedom?

Well, this year you can also think of the 13 state-wide bans against smoking in public places, including restaurants, bars, clubs and some casinos, in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” Colorado’s legislation, which went into effect just four days before Independence Day, brings us to that not-so-magical number.

The bad news continues below the fold…

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Our friends at the Stogie Guys send word that the Washington Nationals baseball team has officially rejected a proposal they came up with to designate a number of seats in the upper level of RFK Stadium for an upcoming home game as “cigar friendly.”

For now.

Empty seats for Washington Nationals baseball games at RFK stadium in Washington, DC

The light at the end of the tunnel is that Carleen Martin, director of marketing and promotions for the Washington Nationals, said that the franchise would reconsider the proposal next year. Perhaps Martin also should consider how successful other major league baseball teams have been with cigar promotions at their stadiums.

I’m not sure how much of a light the statement about “reconsidering the proposal” is, coming as it does in a town where being “sent back to committee” usually means that nothing is ever done. However, it is better than a complete rejection and maybe there is something Cigar Envy readers can do to help the Nats make a different decision.

More on that — and the freebies the Nats passed up to promote the cigar event — below the fold.

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