Americans quitting cigarettes, but turning to cigars

fox news ^ | August 03, 2012

[Drango]

While more Americans than ever before are quitting their cigarette habit, a growing number are also turning to large cigars and pipes, suggesting that gains in curbing tobacco consumption may be more elusive than previously thought.

The findings were outlined in a report released on Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall consumption of smoked tobacco products declined 27.5 percent between 2000 and 2011, but use of noncigarette smoked tobacco products increased by a whopping 123 percent in that same time.

One major culprit for the trend is likely price, particularly in the latter part of the decade as Americans grappled with a weak economy and high unemployment.

In 2009, a federal excise tax was enacted and as a result, pipe tobacco, loose tobacco and cigars were taxed at a significantly lower rate than cigarettes. Responses by the tobacco industry to the tax and resulting price shifts have further compounded the problem, according to the CDC.

"Cigarette-like (tobacco products), formerly thought of as small cigars, have been modified slightly by the manufacturers .... so that they can be taxed at the lower rate," said Terry Pechacek, CDC's Associate director of science, and an author on the report.

As a result, such small cigars which resemble cigarettes are far cheaper, selling for about $1.40 per pack versus $5, Pechacek said. Younger consumers in particular are responding to the shift in pricing and consumption patterns.

"The rise in cigar smoking, which other studies show is a growing problem among youth and young adults, is cause for alarm," ...

McAfee cited a recent report from the U.S. surgeon general, which showed that nearly all smokers start before they are 26 years old, making young consumers the most important target for stopping the epidemic.

[calex59]

That’s silly! All they have to do is STOP using the chemikill that makes it burn! Should be a fed reg. Becareful about the tubes because sometimes they have that chemical too. Zigs and chem free cigs will stop burning as you probably know.

I wondered when someone was going to mention this. The reason pipes, and roll your own cigs, go out so often is because tobacco that has no chemicals added to it will not keep burning once you stop puffing on it. Why have they added something to the paper when simply leaving the chemicals out of it would solve the burning thing?

[OldGoatCPO]

I rarely smoke a cigar now, the moment has to be right, relaxing with a quality beverage and at times good conversation. My Doc asked me one day and I told him I prefer a good cigar with a 15 or 18 year old scotch, but the cigar maybe every six months the scotch generally once a or twice a month. He comment the scotch was healthy in that quantity and the cigar no appreciable affect. My daughter loves the aroma of the cigars, I love the smoothness of the scotch. Good news despite all the hand wringers, it has no adverse health risks.

[BreezyDog]

mmmmmmm...Monte Cristo #3. Time to order some more.

I like the #2...where do you order yours from?

[BreezyDog]

Opinions are like a$$holes and sometimes you are one...

[PhiloBedo]

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I shop these to see who has the lowest price on any day.