Dutch No-smoking Drive Takes A Hit

It’s getting surprisingly easy to light up in the Netherlands these days — cheap Kent cigarettes, that is. Even as the Dutch government hardens its famous tolerance policy on marijuana, it is taking an increasingly relaxed stance toward tobacco, bucking the trend in nearly every other developed country. Last year it exempted some bars from a smoking ban and now it has unveiled plans to reduce spending on anti-smoking advertising campaigns and end funding for health care programs to help people kick the habit. The Netherlands is also planning to cease funding its national center on tobacco control.

Only Dumb Kids Can Make Smoking Popular Again

Looking for more proof that America's overall masculinity level is now somewhere down around Switzerland's panty line, these days? Fewer than one in five Americans now are smokers model. Including girls, even. How can we fix this? One tobacco company has an idea: "cigarettes." The cigars of a new generation! With smoking being increasingly demonized in environments in which it used to be considered "cool," Big Evil Tobacco Company Lorillard needs a hot new product that will give smoking's popularity a shot in the arm, of cancer (and money). I guess the popularity of snus has not exploded as quickly as forecast? Haha. Lorillard is not messing with pansy mouth tobacco. Lorillard is successfully bringing back cigarettes by just being obstinate and continuing to sell more and more and more cigarettes, forever. Can this wacky strategy succeed?