OUR PERSPECTIVE
Today, centuries after the birth of the cigar industry, the business has changed a great deal, while the cigar has changed relatively little since the 1600s. Much of the entrepreneurial spirit that first transformed rustic leaves into aromatic delicacy exists, and even thrives today. Between 1995 and 2016 we were living in the "Golden Age of Cigar Making." There was never so much creativity, variety, quality, and innovation in the luxury tobacco industry: thanks, in part, to the exodus of Cuban cigar makers/farmers/rollers and over fifty years of pioneering work in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, and beyond. Also, we owe thanks to publications like Cigar Aficionado for revolutionizing the perceptions of luxury tobacco in the 1990s; and organizations like the IPCPR for supporting professional tobacconists and Cigar Rights of America for defending consumers’ rights. Ultimately, the confluence of these forces allowed us to live in a very special period of time which may have been the pinnacle of achievement - or just the beginning.
Still, many factors continue to threaten consumers, professionals, and the world of luxury tobacco. By studying history in Tobacco College we learned that taxation and persecution have always been intertwined with the story of tobacco. Currently, we see more anti-tobacco zealotry, legislation, and anti-smoking laws than ever before. Ironically, the professionals that represent this industry, tobacconists, are in danger of extinction. The economic and regulatory pressures tobacconists face from mail order, the internet, discount chains, and increasing anti-smoking laws and regulations are onerous. While we live in a privileged time with regard to product quality, it is more critical now, than ever, to educate and protect those professionals, tobacconists, who teach, share, and preserve the rich traditions of the luxury tobacco industry.
On August 8, 2016 the FDA started regulating the cigar, pipe tobacco, and retail tobacconist industry. Since then, every new product must be "approved" by the FDA and follow new packaging rules which defame the artistic and historical packaging traditions. Cigar makers now need to submit onerous paperwork and documentation to the FDA in order to have their products analyzed, taxed, and approved by the government. The process is absurd since the only ingredients in premium (unflavored) cigars is, and has been, tobacco and water, for the last 400 years. This new anti-tobacco regulation promises to bankrupt innumerable cigar makers who cannot afford the expensive process. And it will benefit all products/skus which existed before February 15, 2007 since they are grandfathered in and allowed to continue to exist without approval. Why would such an arbitrary date exist? There is no logical reason other than that is when the original legislation was introduced. While we cannot apply logic to or understand how the FDA has applied more strict regulation to the cigar industry than the cigarette industry, the results can be catastrophic. While creativity will certainly be stifled, the larger companies will continue to grow under the regulatory burden and consumer choices will suffer. We can easily call this the "Dark Age of Cigar Making." But, the story continues to unfold as organizations like the IPCPR, Cigar Rights of America and the Cigar Association of America, along with others, are suing the FDA for their new and unjust regulations.
This is the history of tobacco, the cigar industry, and its culture, in brief. Among other ambitions, Tobacconist University® is an attempt to honor the farmers, craftsmen (and craftswomen), artists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who turn an acrid leaf into exquisite splendor. We hope that through education your appreciation of the people and products they create will be enhanced. As you will continue to learn, without these men and women to carry on their knowledge and oral history, there would be no luxury tobacco. This unique industry, with its blend of Arts and Science, exists because of traditions and knowledge that must be passed on from generation to generation. Our humble University exists to support this continuity and preserve priceless knowledge.
PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
If you're interested in defending and protecting your rights to enjoy luxury tobacco products, please join Cigar Rights of America.
Certified R&D Tobacconists: United States |
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