Cigar Smoking: HOBBY, NOT HABIT?

Today, many people view cigar smoking as more "civilized" and "glamorous," as well as less dangerous than cigarette smoking. Yet a single large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes. In addition, most of the same cancer-causing substances found in cigarettes are found in cigars. Most cigars have as much nicotine as several cigarettes and a single large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes.

Recent increased publicity of cigar use by celebrities, the introduction of cigar bars, and the sub-culture of cigar paraphernalia such as humidors and clippers have combined to create a glamorous aura around a deadly product. According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, over 5 billion cigars were consumed in 2006.1

By 1996, an estimated six million 14-19 year-olds (26.7 percent of people in this age group) reported having smoked a cigar in the previous year.

An estimated 14.0% of students in grades 9–12 in the United States are current cigar smokers. Cigar smoking is more common among males (19.2%) than females (8.7%) in these grades.

An estimated 5.3% of middle school students in the United States are current cigar smokers.

Estimates are higher for middle school boys (6.7%) than girls (3.8%).

Marketing efforts have promoted cigars as symbols of a luxuriant and successful lifestyle.

Endorsements by celebrities, development of cigar-friendly magazines (e.g., Cigar Aficionado), features of highly visible women smoking cigars, and product placement in movies have contributed to the increased visibility of cigar smoking in society.

When someone like Governor Schwarzenegger, the Terminator himself, appears on the cover of Cigar Aficionado, what does that say to youngsters? Would you think that makes cigar smoking by kids “in” or “out”?

Since 1993, studies have reported high rates of cigar use among teen-agers and preteens, according to the National Institutes of Health. Surprisingly, the NIH also has reported that cigar smoking has gone up among adolescent females.

In 2005, cigar sales in the United States rose 15.3% and generated more than $2.9 billion in retail sales. Large cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars are the three major types of cigars sold in the United States.

But cigar smokers don’t inhale. Or do they?

While almost all cigarette smokers inhale, most cigar smokers do not. Therefore, the risk of lung cancer is lower for cigar smokers than cigarette smokers. However, the risk increases with the more frequent cigar smoking and depth of inhalation. When a smoker who first uses cigarettes, then adds cigars to their smoking habit, they usually transfer their habit of inhaling to the cigars, thereby making them far more dangerous to their health.

Studies show that men who smoke at least five cigars a day and report moderate inhalation, experience lung cancer deaths at about two-thirds the rate of men who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day.

Cigar smokers experience higher rates of lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive lung disease than nonsmokers. Studies show that men who smoke at least three cigars a day are two to three times more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers.

Cigar smoking has similar consequences to cigarette smoking including four to ten times the risk of dying from oral, esophageal, or laryngeal cancer in comparison to nonsmokers.

Cigars contain the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes.

In June of 2000, the Federal Trade commission and seven of the USA’s largest cigar producers made a deal to require warnings on cigar packages and in advertisements.