Cigar bands - on or off?

[storeynicholas]

Do smoking members keep their cigar bands on or take them off? Which practice do members believe is smarter - or does it really matter at all?
NJS

[pvpatty]

I thought that they were supposed to be removed, so I remove mine.

[storeynicholas]

I take mine off too - but there are some who argue the other way and I just wondered what the split was.
NJS

[marcelo]

I once heard that the bands were formerly kept in order to prevent the fingers from coming directly in touch with the cigar. - But in the occasion in which I indulge myself in a cigar, I do remove them.

[Cufflink79]

I'm not a smoker, so I don't think my opinion will count that much. I have seen poeople smoke cigars with the band and without the band.

I can see Marcelo's point about preventing fingers from coming in touch with the cgars, in the case of leaving the band on while smoking, it would be as if one left a button undone on his jacket sleeve, showing what he has.

Hey, even gentlemen need to be a little vulgar every once and a while.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[dopey]

I generally leave the band on for a bit until the glue gets warm enough so the band can be removed without fear of tearing the wrapper leaf.

[storeynicholas]

I generally leave the band on for a bit until the glue gets warm enough so the band can be removed without fear of tearing the wrapper leaf.

Dopey, I too have noticed that sometimes, the bands can be very tricky to remove and this seems to be an excellent way of avoiding damage.
NJS

[whyescalar]

You don't smoke the bands.

Had a buddy who wanted me to bring him some Montecristos. I did so, whole box of no. 3's, in a cellophane bag, rings removed. Seems he wanted the box and rings. Oh well.

[storeynicholas]

You don't smoke the bands.

Had a buddy who wanted me to bring him some Montecristos. I did so, whole box of no. 3's, in a cellophane bag, rings removed. Seems he wanted the box and rings. Oh well.

That's the Prohibition of Great Western Democracy for you. But, in the UK now, apparently, it is criminally defined for builders to wolf-whistle a girl. Here, I am glad to say that the girls have bold eyes and, even, sometimes, catcall the men!! Ah! Real Freedom!! Dare I suggest that you join the Retrocentric Club - more then merely incipient - much more than insipid - on the Bespoke Forum? All contributions welcome.
NJS.

[Bishop of Briggs]

That's the Prohibition of Great Western Democracy for you. But, in the UK now, apparently, it is criminally defined for builders to wolf-whistle a girl. Here, I am glad to say that the girls have bold eyes and, even, sometimes, catcall the men!! Ah! Real Freedom!! Dare I suggest that you join the Retrocentric Club - more then merely incipient - much more than insipid - on the Bespoke Forum? All contributions welcome.
NJS.

It is virtually illegal to breathe in Britain now. I recommend Boisdale's cigar terrace for those who live or visit London - http://www.boisdale.co.uk/belgravia/cigar_terrrace.aspx. The owner, my friend Ranald MacDonald, designed it to meet the strict tolerances. You would not know that you are outdoors.

[storeynicholas]

That's the Prohibition of Great Western Democracy for you. But, in the UK now, apparently, it is criminally defined for builders to wolf-whistle a girl. Here, I am glad to say that the girls have bold eyes and, even, sometimes, catcall the men!! Ah! Real Freedom!! Dare I suggest that you join the Retrocentric Club - more then merely incipient - much more than insipid - on the Bespoke Forum? All contributions welcome.
NJS.

It is virtually illegal to breathe in Britain now. I recommend Boisdale's cigar terrace for those who live or visit London - http://www.boisdale.co.uk/belgravia/cigar_terrrace.aspx. The owner, my friend Ranald MacDonald, designed it to meet the strict tolerances. You would not know that you are outdoors.

Yes the prohibitions put me in mind of a programme, starring Robbie Coltrane as a criminal profiler - in one episode he takes a cab and is told not to smoke and there are signs about not smoking, eating and drinking in the cab. Towards the end of a lengthy journey, the cab driver says to him "Have you farted?" and the aptly named Cracker replies "Why? is that banned too?" Interesting about the cigar terrace. Apparently, tobacco shops are above the ban - and the arguments about protection of employee health do not apply to their staff. Seems odd, but there we are. Can't imagine what Crockford's is like without the fug - probably (like some pubs) not so busy - another economic hit for modern Britain - poor old place!!!
NJS

[sartorius]

I personally am delighted at the smoking ban in the UK. Restaurants and pubs have been immeasurably improved by the absence of fug and one's bespoke clothing is of course also spared the noisome hogo of stale smoke which can linger for days afterwards!

I used to smoke quite heavily and am still partial to a cigar now and then, but I have to say that cigar smoke in an enclosed space is really very unpleasant when you are eating.

If you want to smoke, please do, but don't feel you have a right to inflict it on the rest of us!

To get back to the question posed by the OP, I'm with Sherlock Holmes, who you will remember saying to the Baron Gruner in the Adventure of the Illustrious Client, "You will find, Gruner, that unless you remove the band from your cigar when smoking you rae likely to be put down for a bounder!".

[storeynicholas]

[quote="sartorius"]I personally am delighted at the smoking ban in the UK.

I have said before, and I say again, that I don't like other people's smoke in my face but there are three points here:

First, I can't think of anywhere that I used to go in London where it was a problem and, secondly, I intensely dislike (a) the Nanny State and (b) some people's enjoyment in saying Don't do that, George. George, don't do that[/i] - because my spirit urges me to do it all the more!! - perverse, maybe - but in a country as big as this other one, no one cares much what you do, as long as you don't do it in the street and frighten the horses Living in London now would make me feel as though I were stepping through treacle. Thirdly, are you 'delighted' for your own sake (as a 'reformed' smoker )- or for the sake of the employees' health in the places where, presumably, you used to smoke? You and I have had a similar conversation before and I maintain my line which is (1): enjoy where you are - in your case, to the extent that enjoyment is still permitted at all - and (2) always, always remember that the end of a successful evening is not to be judged by the fact that the bottles are empty and the ashtrays over-flowing - but, rather, by the application of the principle exemplified by the acronym:
NSIT
NJS

[sartorius]

I can't think of anywhere that I used to go in London where it was a problem

Well, I can assure you that for the majority of the population it was a problem in every pub, bar and restaurant in the country. Consider this simple analogy. You and your wife are enjoying dinner in your favourite restaurant, or a drink in your favourite pub or bar. Mid-way through the evening the couple next to you decide that they want to enjoy some music and produce, at their table, a portable stereo, whereupon they proceed to play moderately loud hip-hop music. Would you think this was not a problem? Would you and your wife continue happily with your evening notwithstanding that you are now constantly distracted by the irritating racket coming from 4 feet away?

[Bishop of Briggs]

Sartorius wrote "If you want to smoke, please do, but don't feel you have a right to inflict it on the rest of us!"

It is intolerant people with such views, i.e. authoritarian politicians, who have inflicted them on the public and the proprietors of pubs, clubs and restaurants. Pubs have lost significant trade as a result of the smoking ban and many have closed as a result. Many landlords and their staff lost their jobs as a result. Boisdale, which has a cigar club, was forced to spend a huge sum on the terrace to be able to satisfy its customers' desire to smoke legally. As Patrick Henry said "give me liberty or give me death".