Stogie News: Flavored Cigarette Ban Hits, Cigars Next?
22 Sep 2009
Today, the first provision of the so-called “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act”—a bill that gives the Food and Drug Administration sweeping powers to restrict the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products—goes into effect. The provisions make flavored cigarettes illegal, something anti-tobacco activists say will help stop minors from buying cigarettes.
The ban exempts menthol-flavored cigarettes but includes such “adult” flavors as coffee and whiskey. The menthol exemption is thought to be the result of lobbying by Altria, the world’s largest cigarette maker, which supported the bill as a way to protect its market share.
The new law, however,  has evoked other responses besides cheers from the nanny state crowd. Small tobacconists are bracing for a decrease in sales. As Manhattan smoke shop owner Sami Mohammed told NPR, “It’s destroying us—it’s rocking the smoke shops. It’s killing us, banning all flavored cigarettes,  as well the increase on taxes.”
Cigar Rights of America board member and Orlando cigar shop owner Jeff Borysiewicz told the Orlando Sentinel he’ll lose between $100,000 and $150,000 in sales annually due to the ban. “They say the different flavors appeal to children,” he told the paper. “Applying that logic you might as well ban piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris.”
Ban Leading Regulators to Target Cigars
In response to the law, some flavored cigarette makers, such as clove maker Djarum, have introduced little cigars with the same flavors designed to replace the now prohibited cigarettes. This has already led anti-tobacco lobbyists to call for the ban to be extended to cigars.
The FDA has issued a letter asserting that it may treat flavored cigars as if they were cigarettes. That move should worry makers of flavored or infused cigars including Drew Estate, CAO, General Cigar, and Altadis, all of whom make both flavored and non-flavored cigars.
photo credit: Stogie Guys
You know, I heard they have all sorts of great jobs in Cuba this time of year.
The letter takes aim at “little cigars,” most of which have fiters attached. Before the FDA can regulate handmade cigars, it has to announce plans to do so and go through a years-long rulemaking process.
They have their hands full with regular cigarettes. Cigars are not coming under the FDA anytime soon.
I made a video about this bill back in June. I think you might some of the statements made and questions asked within the video to be interesting and relevant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFuH4h0d-Aw
cigarettes then cigars!! Whats next?? Pipes? Its very hard to ban every thing right!!
“Did you really think we want those laws observed?” said Dr. Ferris. “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against… We’re after power and we mean it… There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed …nor enforced or objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system…that’s the game…”
-Ayn Rand
(‘Atlas Shrugged’ 1957)