Results of the poll on opinions on Drew Estates Acid cigar line are in.

These cigars, of course, are always a subject of controversy in cigar circles. People seem to either hate them or love them, with very few opinions in between whenever they are discussed in online forums.

The poll results show a little more diversity of opinion. Maybe the Cigar Envy audience is a different cross section of the cigar-smoking public, or maybe the anonymity of the poll caused people to be a little more free in saying that they liked them without fear of flaming. Perhaps the sort of people who answer web polls differs significantly from those who post in forums. I’m not sure what the difference is — but the results, and some comments on those results, are 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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Sir Winston Churchill just might end up getting back his trademark cigar after all.

Paul Gudgin, director of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, has spoken out against the onstage smoking ban in Scotland. One Scottish MP has warned that the country is in danger of becoming an international laughing-stock because of their “Calvinist and puritanical” views.

Check below the fold for more information on the over-zealous crusade against smoking in this corner of the United Kingdom that is being termed “so bloody stupid” by wiser, if not cooler, heads.

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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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British actor, comedian and director Mel Smith, set to portray Sir Winston Churchill at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, has raised two fingers firmly against Scotland’s ban of smoking onstage in dramatic performances.

As reported last month, Scotland’s draconian anti-smoking legislation makes it the only nation in the Western world where creativity and art must take a back-seat to political correctness and junk science. Sir Winston Churchill, so associated with cigar smoking that a size and shape of cigar was named after him, cannot be portrayed onstage in Scotland with a cigar in his hand.

Personally, I’d like to know which way Smith’s hand was facing at the time he made that gesture, and whether he was signalling victory or the Vicky.

I’m betting on the latter.

More from Anna Millar in Scotland after the jump.

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Look!

Up on the screen!

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a XIKAR cigar cutter!

That was the reaction from Kurt Van Keppel, founder and president of XIKAR, the industry’s leading manufacturer of cigar and gentlemen’s accessories.

While in a Kansas City theater taking in the country’s hottest new film, “Superman Returns,” Van Keppel was pleasantly surprised to see his company’s Xi1 Titanium cigar cutter featured in three different scenes. Even his young daughter took notice saying, “Daddy, there’s your cutter!”

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