Just My observations around where I live as to how two things have changed.
Buying cigarettes, these are now hidden behind sliding doors and when the doors are opened upon request, all cigarette packs are black in colour. You can't even read the brand name. Then packs of 10 are to soon be unavailable.
Then it's the local policemen, it's become the fashion now amongst the young police officers to grow Muslim style beards, without moustaches. The Chechnyan look. Is this fashion happening to your local police, or is it just my area.
I know fashions come and go, but sometimes change makes you long for the more simple good old days.