Vitola Fine Cigars opened in Mountain Brook Village on December 2, 2011. Working with local metal artist, John Butler, they created a unique product display system inspired by 1950?s Cuba. ?As an artist, working on the Vitola project is a unique chance to experiment with art. The opportunity to see form and function in balance,? said John Butler.
Vitola Fine Cigars stocks over 700 types of cigars, including Padron Anniversary and Tatuaje and is one of the only Davidoff Appointed Merchants in Alabama. The store has been designed as a regional destination for fine cigars. ?We designed the store to reflect the best of Birmingham and the cigar life,? said Harris Saunders, owner. ?Vitola represents what a cigar aficionado?s store should be ? well stocked, with knowledgeable staff in a first class environment,? said Jeremy Dixon. ?This store is something special.?
Vitola took many ideas from their existing stores (Cigars & More Trussville and Hwy 280) and improved on them. Input from Ktanner design, Sally May Interiors and Artworks Studio were key in creating the look of the store.
Vitola features a large cigar lounge for its patrons with free wireless Internet access, private conference area and personal humidor storage for rent. Each month cigar events are held by various cigar representatives where smokers can learn about their favorite brands, pairings and more.
Vitola Fine Cigars is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For additional information and photographs visit VitolaFineCigars.com.
Cigar aficionados and artists alike can now compete for big cash prizes and premium cigars by turning a simple cigar box into a work of art. BestCigarPrices.com, an online distributor of brand name, wholesale cigars from around the world, is sponsoring the Cigar Box Art Contest offering a grand prize of $ 300 cash and second and third prizes of $ 150 and $ 50 gift certificates to be used at BestCigarPrices.com.
“The BestCigarPrices.com Cigar Box Art Contest emerged from one of those great brainstorms you have when you are smoking cigars and talking,” said David Cagan, General Manager of BestCigarPrices.com. “We were just batting around ideas for a fun cigar project and thought, ‘Let’s turn the cigar box into a work of art!’ We hope to see some really great art in this first-ever event.”
All types and styles of art are accepted and encouraged, including zany, classy and cool. The more interesting and unique, the better. There is no entry fee to join and Cigar Box Art will be judged using the following three main criteria: innovation, execution and presentation.
“Most cigar boxes are already works of art, but we want to see just how far ‘out there’ people can go. Let’s see just how crazy or extravagant the cigar box can be,” said Cagan. “Let your imaginations go, you know, the way smoke just sort of curls out into the air. Let your minds explore. Premium cigar smoking is a fun activity, it’s relaxing and it tends to bring out good things in people. That’s the spirit in which this contest was made.”
BestCigarPrices.com will send the first 50 requests a free cigar box to use for their submission, or contestants can use their own boxes. Contestants can call 888-41-cigar or e-mail info (at) BestCigarPrices.com to request a box.
After creating the artsy cigar box, contestants should take one or more high quality digital photos of their Cigar Box Art and e-mail the photos to info (at) BestCigarPrices.com; or mail the completed box to BestCigarPrices.com P.O. Box 652, Stone Ridge, NY 12484. Boxes will not be returned to sender unless a return mailer is included. Judges may request boxes of winners, in which case they will be returned to sender without additional cost.
Contest ends May 14, 2007 and all art must be received or postmarked by this day. BestCigarPrices.com will post winners at their Web site within a month of contest deadline, along with pictures of the winning boxes and other notable entries.
BestCigarPrices.com is an online outlet for wholesale cigars from around the globe including Dominican cigars, Honduran cigars, Jamaican cigars, and Nicaraguan cigars; with a huge offering of brands, such as Acid, Romeo Y Julieta, Ashton and Punch; as well as boutique brands, such as Carlos Torano and Paul Garmirian; and all sorts of smoking accessories like humidors, cigar cutters, cigar molds and more.
“At BestCigarPrices.com we pride ourselves in offering premium cigars online at wholesale cigar prices. We send out hundreds of orders each day. Why not pay tribute to the cigar box? Cigar Box Art! I can’t wait to see what people will do!” said Cagan.
For more information about company products and services, visit http://www.bestcigarprices.com or call 888-41-CIGAR.
About BestCigarPrices.com
BestCigarPrices.com, the leading online cigar distributor, carries, sells, and promotes all major brands of premium cigars, from the world’s bestselling brands to hard-to-find boutique lines. High volume , fast turnover rates, and longstanding relationships with cigar manufacturers around the world enable BestCigarPrices.com to offer one of the most extensive collections of premium cigars at discounted prices, making it the premier online destination for cigar aficionados and beginning smokers alike.
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Cigars have always fascinated people as a stylish smoking product. In earlier days, cigars were only available at limited stores and purchased by wealthy people. Now, a good number of suppliers have made premium cigars available online at reduced prices, so people with limited budgets can enjoy the taste of a good cigar also. With the availability of cigars online, people can now easily enjoy the taste of some luxury cigars that have so far only been assessible through limited options.
People always desire to taste high-end cigars and liquors that define the good life. Many people love to smoke cigars with a drink, and so prefer to enjoy a taste that goes well with that drink. The desire of people to taste such premium products has compelled suppliers to make the products available online. The collection of online cigars has made it feasible for people to shop premium cigars easily.
Online cigar collections include a range of quality products that comprise both handmade and machine made cigars. They are made available online only after they are properly checked by the manufacturers to ensure quality. Swisher Sweets cigars are one such hot selling product that people desire to taste because of its unique blend of quality tobacco. They are distinctly produced by combining premium tobacco with special flavors for a unique taste.
People are becoming more discerning these days and therefore are always seeking a unique taste. They search for quality products with a unique flavor. In the U.S, Gothamcigars.com, an online cigar supplier in Miami, offers brands that give consumers and cigar lovers the taste they have always dreamed of enjoying. To meet the growing demands and maintain the quality of its products, Gothamcigars.com stocks the cigars and cigarettes in its 18,000 square foot inventory storeroom, so that it can preseve the taste for months.
Finding a reliable online cigar supplier that offers cigars at competitive prices is simple and easy. By comparing the prices offered and reading the reviews, you can easily pick a brand that best suits your taste.
discounted from Gothamcigars.com offering cigar samplers, humidors, filtered tubed cigars accessories and cigar tobacco. Find all major brands like CAO, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Gurkha, Ashton, flavored, and more. cigars online from GothamCigars.com at discount prices.
Cigars were once seen as a luxury product meant merely for the affluent or upper class. But, with the availability of discount cigars online, yet a cigar lover who intends to lag a taut monthly budget can bask the taste of premium cigars. The discount prices let the product to be easy low-cost for all.
Discount cigars let cigar lovers to purchase brand name cigars at a price that is easy low-cost. There are numerous online stores that hook major brand names at discount prices, letting customers to take one from the collection that better suits his or her taste. The devouring cigar lovers are besides taking advantage of such outstanding offers while calculating away the brands that better suit their tastes. Among the changed discount cigar collections, Fuente Cigars have go the raging sellers.
Fuente cigars are produced by the prestigious Arturo Fuente Cigar Family, which has made a niche in the cigar industry. It manufactures premium quality cigars that are fat in flavor and keeps the cigar lover in mind. The company offers a bewitching collection of quality cigars, such as Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 858 (4.99), Arturo Fuente 858 5-Pack (.00), Arturo Fuente Churchill 5-Pack (.00), Arturo Fuente Double Chateau 5-Pack and more at low prices. Using the Internet, you can also shop for cigar accessories or humidors to keep cigars fresh and smoke in style.
A good number of cigar brands are available at discount prices online. By scouring the Internet, you will find that major brands such as Rocky Patel, Gurka, Drew Estate, CAO, ACID and more are available at unbeatable prices that are easily affordable to cigar lovers. Suppliers have also categorized cigars as filtered cigars, little cigars, tube cigars and cigarette paper in to meet the demands of the customers.
So, to enjoy the taste of a premium cigar, you do not have to be a wealthy. You can easily one by finding the right online discount cigar supplier.
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‘No More Taxes’ Says Premium Cigar Association to NY Legislators
Columbus, GA (Vocus) May 1, 2010
Albany, New York April 30, 2010 – As part of his $ 620 million budget gap closing plan, Governor David Patterson of New York has proposed yet another tax increase on tobacco products which the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says would jeopardize the business of every community tobacconist and cigar shop throughout the state.
Under the Governor’s plan, the tobacco products tax on chewing tobacco, cigars, pipe tobacco and rolling tobacco would be increased from 46 percent of wholesale price to 90 percent of the wholesale price. In addition, the tax on snuff would be raised from $ .90 per ounce to $ 2.00 per ounce while little cigars would be taxed consistent with the proposed cigarette excise tax of $ 3.75 per pack, rather than the current rate of 46 percent of wholesale price.
“Not only would the existence of all tobacco shops in New York State be threatened by such tax increases, cigar and tobacco enthusiasts would be harshly impacted,” stated Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR, a not-for-profit organization that represents some 2,000 tobacconists, mostly little business owners of mom-and-pop neighborhood cigar stores and manufacturers of premium, hand-made cigars.
“Instead of solving the budget dilemma, the Governor would further complicate things by driving cigar smokers and other tobacco users out of state or to make purchases over the Internet, thus avoiding all state taxes. It would also encourage illegal of bootlegged tobacco products. The result would be a decline in tax receipts for the state, not an increase,” said McCalla.
McCalla said principal arguments being offered in support of higher tobacco taxes are ill-founded and will backfire. He urged New York State voters to contact their elected state officials and tell them they are against any plan that increases tobacco taxes.
“Such taxes never produce the kinds of new revenues that they are projected to raise. They actually cost the state revenues because populate find other, non-taxable ways to get their tobacco. The state continues to lean on the backs of tobacco – little business owners like our members who are fighting to maintain their businesses live. With the taut economy, our retailers are supplying jobs to their employees and paying taxes that the state needs. To tax tobacco further will merely hinder and perchance endanger their operations,” he said.
“The last thing New York State needs now is lower tax revenues, lost jobs and closed businesses,” McCalla said.
Thinking of trying cigars for the first time and confused which brand you should opt for? Let us steer you and assist you to find a premium cigar brand. Obviously, finding the correct cigar brand is quite a boring task if you are not a devouring cigar lover. However, whether you are a passionate cigar lover or merely a newbie, we will infect you some facts that will decidedly assist you to find a brand that better suits your taste.
The cardinal thing that you necessitate to see is your budget. A range of cigar brands are uncommitted at changed prices, so it is ever judicious to see how much you are uncoerced to pass on your desire for cigars. Swisher Sweets cigars and Fuente Cigars are two democratic cigar brands that are made uncommitted at wallet-friendly prices.
Swisher Sweets is produced by blending quality tobacco with particular flavors. These cigars are uncommitted in changed flavors, letting cigar lovers to take which one to purchase depening on his or her taste. For example, Swisher Sweets cigarillos box (.99), Swisher Sweets white grape cigarillos (.50) and Swisher Sweets cigarillos menthol box (.99) are a few hot sellers in the Swisher Sweets cigar brand collection. They are made from premium quality and presented artistically in boxes or humidors.
Arturo Fuente cigars is another cigar brand that maintains unwavering dedication in providing quality products to cigar lovers. Its unique products are handmade and beautifully wrapped with cameroon. The manufacturer offers most of its collection at discount prices, such as Arturo Fuente 858 5-Pack (.00), Arturo Fuente Canones 5-pack (.50), Arturo Fuente Chateau 5-packs (.00), Arturo Fuente Cuban Corona (.12) and Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Maduro (.99).
Numerous suppliers are available online that offer premium cigars in varied sizes and at highly competitive prices. Taking advantage of online offers, you can cigars and have them delivered to your door step. So, without spending much of your hard earned money, you can fulfill your want to enjoy premium cigars.
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For most people, the holiday season kicks off with Thanksgiving, the last Thursday in November. It’s when families come together to celebrate and give thanks for what they have.
After the meal and before attacking the leftovers is the perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy the pleasure of a premium cigar to enhance those special times, according to the 2,000 manufacturers and neighborhood cigar store owners who are members of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.
“Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to savor a mild- to medium-bodied cigar such as those with the Connecticut shade leaf wrapper or cigars from the Dominican Republic. The pleasant aroma of such a cigar makes ordinary moments special and special moments extraordinary,” says Jorge Armenteros, founder of Tobacconist University, the official curriculum resource of IPCPR.
“On Thanksgiving, families and friends should focus on smoking the same brand and shape of cigar. This way, you can talk about and compare the flavors and aromas you are experiencing, sharing taste and preferences while learning from each others’ opinions. Smoking the same brand of cigars with others enhances the learning and bonding experience while anchoring the pleasant and celebratory occasion. Your local IPCPR tobacconist can give tips on a range of excellent cigars that fit the occasion,” he suggested.
Armenteros explained that what makes a hand-made cigar special begins with the tobacco growing process and continues through aging and hand-rolling. All told, from seed to cigar store, more than 300 dedicated people are involved in the production of each premium cigar.
“Today’s manufacturers of premium cigars have combined natural growth and aging processes with modern technology and old-fashioned techniques that result in a broad range of shapes, sizes and flavors to suit today’s preferences,” he explained.
For more information on premium cigars, go to tobacconistuniversity.com and to find a qualified tobacconist, go to ipcpr.org.
Since its release in 1999, the Ashton VSG has been the most successful blend of Ashton cigars to date. This is a very full-bodied cigar known for having a smooth and deep draw and a rich, complex, intoxicating flavor.
The term VSG stands for Virgin Sun Grown in reference to the fact that all tobaccos used in these cigars are sun-grown by nature. This powerful line is the personal handiwork of Carlos Fuentes Jr. himself, who worked in partnership with Ashton for a total of two years.
Four to five year-old Dominican tobacco is hand-picked from the most fertile plants. The unique flavor of the Ashton VSG comes from a wrapper that is grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where it is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton. The wrapper matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region’s natural cloud covering.
This is a powerful cigar with an intoxicating flavor with a complex rich finish. It is blended by Carlos Fuente Jr. using 4 to 5 year old Dominican tobacco hand-picked from the most fertile plants. The unique flavor of the VSG comes from a wrapper that is grown on a private estate in Ecuador owned by the Oliva family where it is grown for the Fuente Family exclusively for Ashton. The wrapper matures slowly by sunlight filtered through the region’s natural cloud covering.
This complex blend of flavor and color are derived from a couple of things. The first is the Dominican filler and binder that make up the heart of each of these fine cigars.
Carlos Fuente Jr. himself blends this line, using 4-5 year old Dominican tobacco that is hand-picked from his very best plants. A more complex layering of flavor derives from the superb Ecuadorian wrapper. The Ecuadorian wrapper is matured very slowly in filtered sunlight that trickles down through the natural cloud covering hovering over the Oliva familys private estate where it is grown.
The Ashton VSG is considered a full body smoke. Generally, it is most appreciated by veteran cigar aficionados who appreciate complexity in flavor and aroma. It is also a good cigar for bold new smokers who want to try something more powerful simply for the sake of appreciating the virtues of strength. Those who do so find that it has a creamy flavor as well that makes the draw as pleasant as it is powerful.
In fact, many cigar reviews have described this cigar as having an elegant, intoxicating flavor. Just after lighting, it has floral notes and flavors that remind you of plum. It also tastes distinctively of natural tobacco. Hints of spice, clove, and cinnamon are also present.
The Ashton VSG becomes moister toward the middle. Many report a leathery component and cedar sweetness. Toward the end of the smoke, a note of raw peanuts can be tasted. It is also well-loved because it has a slow, even burn thanks to an even and firm construction.
The Ashton VSG is distinctively square in shape that it has become a known form. You can also these cigars in a round shape if that is your preference. The most popular size is the 55 ring-size Torpedo. Ashton also makes this blend in ring sizes of 44, 46, and 52.
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Smoking has become the affliction of a large magnitude of people and others seem to be joining the smoke bandwagon at an alarming rate. Smoking has become a very common sight with one out of every fifth person being a smoker. The trend of smoking has become very common among teenagers also. The problems one gets due to smoking are many, but they do not seem to encourage people to stop smoking or deter people for starting to smoke. The hazardous effects of smoking are many, but people do not seem to be paying heed; the tobacco companies seem to be the only one is reaping the rewards out of smoking.
Since tobacco was born, it has been a few companies dominate the tobacco industry. These companies control most of the production and distribution around the world. They are quick to adapt to their policies and tactics to conform to the regulations set by the government and cater to the needs of the ever-increasing number of smokers around the world.
Tobacco companies of the world
A few companies hold the tobacco production and control of tobacco; the three largest companies sell close to two thirds of the entire supply. The stagnation in demand has prompted them to explore new markets.
The government is in a predicament since the tobacco industry accounts for a vast amount of jobs, but it also has to protect the health of its citizens. The government has tried to cut down on smokers by increasing the taxes imposed on them. By increasing the taxes on tobacco products and leveling higher duties on the companies, the companies are forced to raise the prices, which indirectly reduce use; since higher priced goods will be used less often. There is not much the government can do since tobacco is not a banned product.
The large companies also diversify their business to keep abreast in the market. They use various ways the companies diversify.
By market segments: Products are usually divided into categories, from high priced premium cigarettes to low and middle class of cigarettes. Companies with big brand names sell premium high priced cigarettes but also expand in to lower class to protect them from susceptibility. A decline in of premium cigarettes will be ploughed back by the in the lower or middle brands of cigarettes.
By target group: Every cigarette has its target group. By creating a new target group, the company can raise its overall market share. Thus the need to branch out into women cigarettes and target young people.
This targeting of women and youngsters has been seen in bad light. The tobacco industry has long targeted young people with its advertising and promotional campaigns. One of the most memorable, “Joe Camel” campaign initiated by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, helped generate public outrage against tobacco company efforts to reach young audiences and it is no longer used. The reason is obvious, most people start smoking at an early age. Getting a hold on a new segment will increase its share in the market.
Women are also a segment that the industries try to win over. Cigarettes for women are put forward as a symbol of liberation and some even shown in the light of slimming products. Manufacturers produce (long, slim) cigarettes especially for women. Perfumed or scented cigarettes with exotic flavors are targeted at women. Cigarettes usually have the word “slim” or “lights” to attract women consumers. Minorities are also a target for the tobacco industry.
Diversification by tobacco products: cigarettes companies also try to branch out into other tobacco products. For example, Imperial tobacco has decided to branch out into the roll your own segment; it dominates both the tobacco and the paper for this segment.
Diversification by non-tobacco products: food seems to be the favorite for companies seeking to diversify. R.J. Reynolds bought Nabisco (which, in turn, was later acquired by Kraft) owned by Philip Morris. Japan Tobacco derives a (small) part of its from food. Logistics and wholesaling are another favorite
Austria Tabak, wholesaling of tobacco and other products (and the operation of vending machines) makes up a large share of turnover. Over 20 per cent of Altadis’ earnings originate in its logistics division. Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni owns the largest wholesaler of consumer goods in Denmark. BAT tried financial services (but, since 1998, is a pure tobacco company).
Diversification into food and other activities makes the tobacco companies less dependent on (slow-growing) of tobacco products. However, the profit margins in these industry are usually well below those attained in tobacco processing. Producing and marketing cigarettes remain the more lucrative activity.
Incase of diversification by geographical market, OECD-based tobacco companies are keen to reduce their dependence on their stagnant home markets and establish a presence in markets where growth is above average. After having started business in many markets in Latin
America, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Central Asian republics in the 1990s, their center of attention is shifting to the Far East. All the major tobacco companies now have a presence in Poland, Russia and the Central Asian republics. Austria Tabak, which gained a presence in
Estonia when it acquired the cigarette activities of Swedish Match also has a 67 per cent market share in Guinea. The company was considering entering Asian markets when it was taken over by Gallaher in June 2001. Through this take-over and the acquisition in 2000 of Liggett-Ducat, the Moscow cigarette maker, Gallaher greatly reduced its dependence on the UK market. Similarly, Japan Tobacco became a world player when it acquired the international activities of R.J. Reynolds. Thanks to a relentless internationalization drive, Germany’s Reemtsma now sells less than one-third of its total in its home market (compared to over 60 per cent in 1991) (see also figure 6). It is now on the go in several Central and Eastern European countries and, in 1999, it acquired Cambodia’s Paradise Tobacco Company.
The government.
A predicament is generally faced by the Governments all across the world. On the one hand, tobacco-growing and processing can makes a large contribution to employment, tax revenue and foreign exchange receipts. In many developing and formerly centrally planned economies, the tobacco companies have made sizeable and most welcome investments when other investors were disinclined to do so. On the other hand, governments have the responsibility to protect the population’s health. Smoking is harmful to health and treating people for smoking-related illnesses is expensive. This can lead to heated debates within the same government as each sector defends the interests it believes it should represent.
The economic importance of tobacco growing and processing differs from country to country. At the national level, cigarette ( and import) tax can be a main source of government revenue. In Russia, cigarette tax revenue contributes around 8 per cent to the financing of the state budget.
When the government owns the industry, it receives profits in addition to tax. That is why, in so many countries, State monopolies continue to control cigarette trade and production. In China, proceeds from state-owned CNTC amounted to the equivalent of US$11,000 million in 1999. CNTC has been the Chinese State’s top revenue generator for years. Japan Tobacco earned more than US$400 million for the Japanese State in the fiscal year ending March 2000. The monopolies can also play a social function. In Italy, several of the state monopoly’s factories are to be found in areas of high unemployment.
Then there are balance of payments issues to mull over, many low-income countries rely on the export of cash crops such as tobacco to pay for the service of their foreign debt.
Tobacco exports made up close to 10 per cent of Cuba’s exports in 1997-98. In the case of
Tanzania it was 15 per cent, In Zimbabwe over 25 per cent and in Malawi tobacco exports made up two-thirds of commodity exports.
Citizens smoke. But, if they smoke domestically produced cigarettes, using homegrown tobacco or use imported cigarettes and tobaccos can make a large difference when foreign exchange is scarce. That explains why so many countries try to restrict the imports of cigarettes and encourage domestic producers to use local tobaccos, for example, by providing a favorable tax treatment to companies that use a minimum percentage of homegrown tobaccos. The cigarette companies have also been a key source of investment in the formerly centrally planned countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. When others were disinclined to invest, those companies saw the possibilities offered by a blend of pent-up consumer demand, outdated production facilities and the association with independence and “western style” living that so appealed to the people in these countries after many years of central planning and little consumer choice. After having lobbied successfully for the reduction of restrictions of Asian markets such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, the large tobacco companies are eagerly waiting for the opening up of the other economies (notably China) that continue to restrict imports from and/or investments by foreign tobacco companies.
Tobacco growing, processing and exports can thus make a significant involvement to national employment and national income. Yet, however important tobacco growing and processing may be at the national level, its full economic and social significance is best grasped at the micro or regional level. In some regions, tobacco is grown side by side with the crop, which is the main source of income; its contribution to overall income is modest. However, in many others, tobacco is a main source of income and employment.
Tobacco growing and tobacco processing may bring substantial economic and social benefits, but the treatment of smoking-related illness is costly. Cigarette smoking causes cancer. It is addictive. The WHO estimates that tobacco products cause around 3 million deaths per year. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of preventable mortality in developed countries. In the mid-1990s, about 25 per cent of all male deaths in developed countries were due to smoking. Among men aged 35-69 years, more than one-third of all deaths were caused by smoking. The costs of treating all these people are clearly enormous (WHO, 1997).
So far, smoking has not had the same impact on mortality among women and among people from developing countries. There is an approximate 30-40 year time lag between the onset of persistent smoking and deaths from smoking. The effects of the greater incidence of smoking between these two groups will thus be felt with a lag, but it seems reasonable to believe that its impact on them will not differ fundamentally from that on developed country males.
It may be argued that smokers willingly take a certain health risk when enjoying their smoke. They like the taste and all the other things that they associate with smoking. Nevertheless, this does not apply to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or “second-hand smoke”.
Smoke gets in your eyes your clothes. Moreover, it gets in your lungs. Non-smokers cannot escape from smoke in badly ventilated areas. To be exposed to other people’s tobacco smoke can be a nuisance in addition to being a health risk for non-smokers.
Governments and conflicting pressures: How do they get by?
In practice, governments have opted for several strategies (which are often followed simultaneously). A recent strategy consists of seeking compensation for the costs of treating smoking-related illnesses. It has been followed with success in the United States, as we saw in section 3.4. Governments also set rules regarding the maximum content of hazardous substances in cigarettes. Most of all, however, governments try to discourage demand for what is, as the industry does not tire of telling us, essentially a legal product.
This is done in a variety of ways, with some governments applying particular vigor and others taking a more relaxed approach. Overall, however, the trend is clear: governments’ rules on smoking are becoming ever more restrictive. The use of tobacco products is being discouraged in several ways.
Limitation of the space where smoking is allowed.
This is done above all to protect non-smokers from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke. Smoking is being prohibited in public places (particularly health care and educational facilities) and in mass transport. Legislation requires restaurants to reserve space for non-smokers.
Limitation by age group
It is prohibited to sell tobacco products to people under a certain age.
Limitations on points of .
The use of vending machines is being restricted because these cannot discriminate against to young people.
Health warnings stating that tobacco is harmful to health have become obligatory.
The warnings must be placed on packets and in ads, with the authorities prescribing the text and the minimum space allotted to the warning in the ad or on the pack. Governments sponsor education and public information programs on smoking and health.
Advertising bans. Restrictions concern the location of ads, the media used (no billboards, no ads in the printed media or in cinemas), the images presented (no young people, no cigarette packets), and the time when broadcasting is allowed (not during hours when children watch television).
The manufacturers are unhappy with these restrictions, and in particular with the ban on advertising. In their view, it is not proved that such a ban discourages demand for cigarettes (as its proponents claim). They are concerned about its effect on the value of their prime asset, the brand name.
Worldwide, the tobacco-processing industry employs hundreds of thousands of people. However, due to a combination of slow demand growth, consolidation, and higher productivity, this number is unlikely to increase by much in the near future. Fewer people are needed per unit of production. The industry is becoming less intensive in the use of labor. Tobacco growing, in contrast, gives work to millions of people. It continues to be a highly labour-intensive activity. The scope for productivity increases in tobacco growing would appear to be more limited than those in tobacco processing.
Over a million people are employed in the world tobacco industry
However, of this number a high percentage is employed in just three countries: China, India and Indonesia. The large number employed in China comes as no surprise in view of the large number of cigarettes (one-third of the world total) produced there. Still, the productivity gap with the United States is striking. China produces roughly three times as many cigarettes as the US, but it needs over nine times as many people to produce them. In the other two countries, the scope for productivity improvements would appear to be even higher.
THE SCENARIO TODAY.
The situation concerning smoking are scary, if global trends continue as they are doing today by 2030 more than 8 million people will die each year from tobacco related causes-80% in the developing regions of the World. In India per example where 120 million smoke 1 in 5 men will die for smoking. Smoking is on the decline in developed nations but is on a large-scale rise in developing or underdeveloped nations. The statistics are frightening, every eight seconds someone dies from smoking; about 15 billion cigarettes are sold daily. There are 1.1 billion smokers in the world today, and if things continue as they have, that number is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by the year 2025.
Smoking and use of tobacco products is on a decline in most developed countries. However, it is on a rampant increase in other developing countries.
In the US, there has been a decrease in the number of smokers. This can be attributed to the growing awareness of the damage smoking causes to the health of the individual. There is however a sad side to the story, smoking has increased to a drastic level in other countries and the figures are staggering.
China is home to 300 million smokers who consume upwards of 1.7 trillion cigarettes a year, or 3 million cigarettes a minute. As many as 100 million Chinese men presently under the age of 30 will die from tobacco use. There are approximately 120 million smokers in India today, and it is estimated that in the year 2010 alone, there will be close to one million tobacco-related deaths among men and women age 30 to 69 in India. Worldwide, tobacco use will kill more than 175 million people between now and the year 2030. Current tobacco-related health care costs in the United States total US $81 billion annually. Germany spends an average of US $7 billion, and Australia, US $1 billion each year on health care directly related to tobacco use. Health care costs associated with secondhand smoke total US $5 billion a year in the U.S. It is estimated that as many as 500 million people alive today will be killed by tobacco use. The statistics are chilling.
One reason for the sudden spurt in the numbers in these countries may be due to the arrival of tobacco companies. The lax stand of the governments in these countries makes it a good bet to start business. The anti smoking lobbies in these countries have not been able to combat the increase. Increased awareness has made it hard for tobacco companies to work in many countries and so the tobacco companies have shifted their sights to greener pastures.
These countries have a very small anti smoking lobby and the government restrictions o them are not so tough and the government is dependent on the revenues it earns from them. Setting up business in these countries has resulted in increased used of tobacco products.
The anti smoking lobby has been very effective in curtailing the spread and increase of smoking around the world.
Advertising related to tobacco has is banned in most countries. Warnings of the harmful effects of the product have to be printed on the packet. This statutory warning is mandatory in most countries. The WHO in its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which came into effect on 27 February 2005 has specified that all 168 countries should ban advertisements unless their constitutions forbade them to do so.
Today, we are aware of the hazards of smoking. Even though the people are aware of the harmful effects of smoking they rarely seem to pay heed. Everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, heart diseases and can shorten the life span of an individual. It is a highly addictive habit and smokers are at a risk of losing ten years of their life.
With so many smokers around the world, tobacco companies are the only ones gaining form the increase.
Smoking Joey-Heavy Smoker –
If you are smoking-try to quit- but in the meantime-smoke for less.
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