Tobacco Companies Use Regulatory Loopholes to Market Sweet Cigars to Kids

The tobacco industry has long been associated with being immoral, but this latest scandal certainly shines a light on the industry.

In fact, Dr Len’s analogy on his blog of “likening the behavior of tobacco companies and Muhammad Ali’s tactic of bobbing and weaving his opponents’ punches” can certainly be applied to the newest shocking report surrounding this long-tarnished industry.

According to a report released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, despite cigarette smoking declining in the United States, the sale of cigars has almost doubled since 2000, due to an “explosion of cheap, sweet small cigars that entice kids”. (1)

The campaign conducted a national survey, which revealed that school children were 50 percent more likely to report smoking cigars in the last month than adults. Not only this but the age group of 18–24 year olds smoke cigars at an alarmingly high rate of 15.6 percent. (1)

These statistics are due, according to the report, to tobacco companies manipulating regulatory loopholes to effectively make the cigars taste sweeter in order to attract kids.

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