Hey everyone. I’ve missed the last couple posts, it’s been crazy here! We’re trying to crank as much out as we can before the snow starts falling up north and cigar smoking slows down. Here’s a quick update: The C & C Connecticut will be shipping as scheduled tomorrow, Tuesday, November 22nd. So be on the lookout for it! We were at the Cigar Heritage Festival Saturday from 9am – 5pm in Ybor City in Tampa, FL. Thanks for stopping by if you did! Also, on Monday December 12th we will be doing the Moonlight Cigar Cruise in conjunction with the Sarasota CRA Club from 7:30pm – 10:30pm. Entry is $45 and includes 5 cigars, food, music and a beautiful view of Sarasota Bay. Full bar is available and they take cash only.
I have to rant about something here… This nationwide government fixation on taxing cigars as they do cigarettes is getting to be ridiculous and the reasons provided by the agencies passing these regulations/taxes show the extremes of their naiveté. There can really only be two reasons; either they believe they are going to make money off of raising the taxes, sometimes over 1,000% above current rates, or they think people will choose not to partake in tobacco products. Either way, tobacco sales drop in the targeted area and jobs are lost in that area as well as where the distributors/manufacturers are located. This is the last thing we need in an economy where everyone is crying about the unemployment rate. History also shows that extreme tax increases such as these do not increase revenue because, as I said above, sales of the product drop.
As quoted from this article http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/nov/13/tobacco-program-waste-money/, “You would have to be living under a rock not to know the dangers of tobacco use.” On top of added taxes and regulations being passed the government, FDA, is getting ready to spend $600 million dollars to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco products! Is this a good investment by a government that has an annual budget deficit of over $1,300,000,000,000? Consumers of tobacco products understand the risks when they make the CHOICE to use them. Especially cigar consumers, these are individuals willing to pay more than $10 for a single cigar. That’s the cost of 2 packs of cigarettes. I’m sure one of the main concerns is youth, persons under the age of 18, getting into smoking. While there may be a chance of them picking up a cigarette I doubt they are looking to spend even $3-$4 on a lower priced cigar. Even if the underage person grew up in a family where both parents smoked they would have undoubtedly heard about the dangers at school, from their friends, on a TV show, from doctors, etc. But, as I said, I believe that is a cigarette issue NOT a cigar issue and we should not be penalized with the same ferocity.
I doubt they will make the use of tobacco products illegal as that would completely take away people’s right to make the choice. But, it seems they can and are increasing taxes at a rate that if allowed to continue will make this hobby too expensive for the regular cigar smoker in the near future. If you’re not already a member joining the CRA (www.CigarRights.org) can help stop this.
Let me know what you think!
– Shane
C&C Cigars 
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