From European Cigar Cult Magazine comes a handy guide to anti-smoking laws around the world. If your holiday plans include a visit to any of these places, your cigar lighter will get very little use:

EUROPE

European Union Plans

Brussels is considering an EU-wide smoking ban in restaurants and other enclosed spaces. The Health Committee of the EU Parliament has called upon the EU Commission to classify tobacco smoke a first-category carcinogenic substance (equivalent to asbestos and benzene) as soon as possible.

EU Public Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou told the EU policy portal EurActiv that it was his ambition to have smoking bans introduced in all EU member states by the end of his term in 2009.

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From Toraño Cigars:

“Toraño Cigars enjoyed the spotlight at two prestigious events recently, enhancing their visibility and reputation on the international scene. The fourth-generation family-owned premium cigar producer is the only company to own factories in all three major cigar-producing countries: Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

“The Toraño family took top honors at the 2005 annual “Cigar Awards” evening, sponsored by Europe’s most widely-read cigar publication, European Cigar Cult Journal. Coinciding with RTDA 2005, the awards presentation was held on August 7, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. The Austrian publication’s Editor-in-Chief, Reinhold Widmeyer, presented the award for “Best Honduran Brand” to Vice President Charlie Toraño.

The award was based on results of extensive tasting by a panel of experts, and reflected the Toraño’s overall superiority as a Honduran cigar maker. It was determined largely on the quality and performance of the Toraño Exodus 1959 and Exodus 1959 Silver Edition, two cigars that have earned top ratings in other cigar publications. Vice President Charlie Toraño, in accepting the trophy, expressed “gratitude and pride at being chosen to represent Honduras and its great tradition of cigar making.”

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From Cigarwise:

CAO, one of the world’s foremost premium cigar manufacturers, was awarded European Cigar Cult Journal’s illustrious “Best Nicaraguan Cigar 2005” Trophy for its CAO Criollo Mancha cigar during an awards presentation held on August 7, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.

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