21 is the new 18???

[Billb1960]

Once it becomes accepted that the government is the provider of all things including the basic necessities then accepting the fact that you must live by whatever rules they establish is simple.

[AlanS]

When The People Fear Their Government, THERE IS TYRANNY;
When the Government fears the People, There is Liberty.

[Bruck]

As I get older, my "ideal" minimum drinking age goes up. Right now it's at about 40. But my other fantasy rule is that everyone is required to start drinking at 40

Yeah, I've noticed the gradual push to raise the minimum smoking age to 21. That's just as ridiculous as my drinking age rules. Kids are going to smoke. Now we're just forcing it "underground" and teaching them to disrespect the law that much more.

[Upstatemax]

I love when people talk crap about smokers here in NY...

I ask them how they like their kids schools, roads, property taxes and income taxes (trust me taxes are already high).

Because if smoking were gone in NY, school and infrastructure funding would plummet, bunch of layoffs, while taxes would go way up.

Last I heard, NYS profits more from tobacco sales in NY than all of major tobacco. Trust me, they have zero plan (other than tax hikes and slash spending) on how they would make up the difference in the budget. IIRC, they make around $600 million.

[droy1958]

I imagine sugar and caffeine to be next on the list to regulate.....

[ssaka]

I can not argue with any of the logic regarding liberties, the unjustness of being old enough to die for your country and a myriad of other issues. However, when it comes to premuim handmade cigars the 18-26 year old is not a significant part of the consumer base. Granted there are some young connoisseurs of fine cigars who are extremely passionate, but as a rule it is not a market segment we seek. Simply put, very very few young adult consumers can afford to buy handmade cigars with any regularity.

I do not know the official position of the CRA, CAA or anyone in regards to this matter. But personally, while the libertarian in me dislikes any more rules or regulations, I do believe age increases to 21 is one that will not have a significant impact to the handmade cigar segment.

The really big issue is getting the federal government to recognize that not all tobacco is the same and that here needs to be a standalone classification for premium handmade cigars so we stop getting lumped into any broad based tobacco legislation.

STS

ps: I strongly encourage every retailer and consumer to become a member of the CRA. If all you ever do is pay your annual dues, you are helping to protect all of our interests in handmade cigars. Please consider it - thanks.

[Rocket Scientologist]

Bud light and marlboro reds....rice beer and imitation hops while you smoke floor sweepings...that is just so cool.

Hey! It might be rice beer and imitation hops, but that's MY rice beer and imitation hops!! Bud Light 4ever!!!

jk - being from St Louis I feel I need to defend "our" beer even if I don't like it.

[Upstatemax]

I can not argue with any of the logic regarding liberties, the unjustness of being old enough to die for your country and a myriad of other issues. However, when it comes to premuim handmade cigars the 18-26 year old is not a significant part of the consumer base. Granted there are some young connoisseurs of fine cigars who are extremely passionate, but as a rule it is not a market segment we seek. Simply put, very very few young adult consumers can afford to buy handmade cigars with any regularity.

I do not know the official position of the CRA, CAA or anyone in regards to this matter. But personally, while the libertarian in me dislikes any more rules or regulations, I do believe age increases to 21 is one that will not have a significant impact to the handmade cigar segment.

The really big issue is getting the federal government to recognize that not all tobacco is the same and that here needs to be a standalone classification for premium handmade cigars so we stop getting lumped into any broad based tobacco legislation.

STS

ps: I strongly encourage every retailer and consumer to become a member of the CRA. If all you ever do is pay your annual dues, you are helping to protect all of our interests in handmade cigars. Please consider it - thanks.

You need to remember that what happens to other parts of the tobacco industry WILL trickle down to the cigar markets.

Once the anti-tobacco groups get a victory they will not just high five and walk away into the sunset. They are going to look for the next target

You would think by now, as a nation, that we would have learned that you can't legislate this stuff away. All it does is open up the flood gates to massive amounts of illegal activities that are almost impossible to snuff out and extremely expensive to fight...

[theHammer56]

I can not argue with any of the logic regarding liberties, the unjustness of being old enough to die for your country and a myriad of other issues. However, when it comes to premuim handmade cigars the 18-26 year old is not a significant part of the consumer base. Granted there are some young connoisseurs of fine cigars who are extremely passionate, but as a rule it is not a market segment we seek. Simply put, very very few young adult consumers can afford to buy handmade cigars with any regularity.

I do not know the official position of the CRA, CAA or anyone in regards to this matter. But personally, while the libertarian in me dislikes any more rules or regulations, I do believe age increases to 21 is one that will not have a significant impact to the handmade cigar segment.

The really big issue is getting the federal government to recognize that not all tobacco is the same and that here needs to be a standalone classification for premium handmade cigars so we stop getting lumped into any broad based tobacco legislation.

STS

ps: I strongly encourage every retailer and consumer to become a member of the CRA. If all you ever do is pay your annual dues, you are helping to protect all of our interests in handmade cigars. Please consider it - thanks.

This isn't so much about whether or not the "market segment" is affected as much as it is about - how much of the camel's "nose" do we allow in the tent.

[Wolfpack Smokes]

However, when it comes to premuim handmade cigars the 18-26 year old is not a significant part of the consumer base. Granted there are some young connoisseurs of fine cigars who are extremely passionate, but as a rule it is not a market segment we seek. Simply put, very very few young adult consumers can afford to buy handmade cigars with any regularity.

I completely agree with your point, and statistically speaking, you are probably correct. I am usually the youngest person in my local shop by 20+ years. But allowing a small age bump now could lead to a host of other issues, including new blends being subject to governmental treatment, price floors on "premium cigars", etc. What threatens my liberties today may very well threaten yours tomorrow.