Don't let Cuban cigars be stubbed out

[El Presidente]

Don't let Cuban cigars be stubbed out

The drop in cigar exports is a heavy blow for Cuba's ailing economy – it's time for us to show some support

Sholto Byrnes

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 June 2010 17.00 BST

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/20...ar-exports-drop

When a statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel was unveiled at the London college bearing his name three years ago, some commented on the absence of the cigar that Brunel was rarely seen without. (He got through 40 a day.) The worry was, apparently, that Brunel's vile habit had fallen victim to the disapproval of drinking, smoking, violence and gambling in public spaces.

Brunel University and the sculptor both denied this. It was a matter of aesthetics, they said. But news comes of a much greater threat to the cigar industry than moralisers – a threat so grave it leads one to question whether a stogie would even be available to a late 21st century or 22nd century Brunel. Cuban cigar exports have dropped by two thirds in three years, according to a report this morning, falling victim to a combination of the recession, a drop in airline passenger numbers (a quarter of sales are in duty free), and the smoking bans that have already driven puffers out of taxi cabs, offices and restaurants – and perhaps soon will shoo the huddled masses from the doorways, awnings, public parks and private vehicles in which they are now forced to take a pleasure known to mankind for centuries.

This is a tragedy not only for those for whom no celebration is complete without handing round the cigars – as happened, for instance, after my godson's christening in Cambridge recently. (You may be glad to know that he neither partook of, nor indeed was even present, during the consumption of said Cohibas.) Nor would this loss be felt merely by students of iconography, who associate a solid cigar not only with Churchill, but also with sportsmen such as Babe Ruth, gangsters such as Al Capone, and a long list of celluloid and musical luminaries including Fats Waller, Groucho Marx, Jack Nicholson, and – let his name be inscribed on the scrolls of honour – the inimitable Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard.

No: more than that, it is pretty serious for Cubans, who have 70% of the world market in cigars. Stubbing out this source of revenue would be a heavy blow for an economy that is already in a critical condition and which has long laboured under an American embargo imposed when the cold war was at its chilliest but which makes no sense today. You don't have to be a supporter of the Castro brothers' regime to find the continuation of this blockade cruel in the extreme, when it is the Cuban people rather than the elites who suffer from it most.

So there are two options available to those concerned about the plight of Cubans in these hard times. One is to write to Barack Obama urging him to end the embargo, echoing the call of Washington DC's Cato Institute (named, I believe, after the Roman statesman rather than Inspector Clouseau's homme d'affairs): "It's time to let go of a policy that only serves to punish the innocent and antagonise our friends. Let Cubans freely taste the carrot of our prosperity through trade."

The other – and I realise this would be an unpalatable choice for many – would be to support the Cuban economy by following the example of Brunel and taking up cigars; although I would suggest starting with the odd post-prandial rather than aiming to match his heroic consumption straight away. If smoking them yourself is just too much, you could always take a tip from Ronald Reagan, no friend of Castro but who certainly thought of himself as a lover of liberty. In the 50s he appeared in a seasonal advertising campaign saying: "I'm sending Chesterfields to all my friends – that's the merriest Christmas any smoker can have."

So, take one for the Gipper – and for the Cuban people – lighten up and light up. Let me remind you of the line from the old Henri Winterman cigar ads: "No one's too grand for a Grandee."

[reg]

lets urge the entire world to smoke!

but they better not urge us NOT to smoke!

[asmith]

The Man himself.

Damn they are some high pants

[MIKA27]

Damn they are some high pants

Maybe he's a Leprechaun?

Those chains behind him look HUGE!

[lemmycaution]

Maybe he's a Leprechaun?

Those chains behind him look HUGE!

[Colt45]

Damn they are some high pants

ever the fashionista......

[jdeese88]

Hip Hip! Hooray!

[samb]

I think society gets more afraid of tobacco every day, lol.

[Warren]

Damn they are some high pants

Yes I think they were designed by a man named Harry .

Actually for some reason I've always liked that photo.

[OZCUBAN]

A very startling

article about what is really happening and on so many levels ...

my theory ,i could be wrong, but what if ,the Cuban economy continues to Hemorrhage i would imagine that the cuban Government would have no choice but to keep jacking up prices,to stay afloat ,as to speak,would that not alienate the very market they need to help them ,and in alienate i mean that a certain percentage of smokers would either cut back, or stop due to financial restraints.(I know this happens anyway).

Coupled with the fact that the laws surrounding Tobacco are becoming more and more extreme ..

Some would say there will always be a Cuban Cigar industry ,well stranger things have happened

To me this is truly frightening

I do not smoke any thing that is not Cuban and as such i will continue to support them as much as i can

Thank you for your time

Cheers OZ