Of course, locally bullish BoEs with dictatorial COBEs will still try and insist that beards are offensive in their area.................
Yep, the above is absolutely 100% the case. I know of one brother recently pulled up by the CO about the utter shock he had to see the brother sporting a ( neat trim beard) beard. The CO even asked him to read this September's Watchtower on dress and grooming. He reminded the brother that men don't tend to wear beards in the organisation and to look at the examples of brothers at the assemblys.
As sir82 says re the article....it is doublespeak. Unless the GB send each BOE a letter instructing them to avoid pulling brothers up for simply choosing to grow a beard, there will always be the the over zealous company men ready to pounce on anyone that doesn't tow the line according to THEIR pharasaical rules and standards.