U.S. House Passes ‘Historic’ Bill Exempting Premium Cigars from Internet Sales

[T.52]

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/house-passes-historic-bill-exempting-premium-cigars-from-internet-sales-premarket-review-but-there-s-a-catch

My favorite part is

"The bill, however, is not a complete win for the premium, handmade cigar industry. Included in H.R. 2339 is a federal definition of premium cigar that includes a minimum retail price of $12 per cigar. According to the FDA’s own data, fewer than 25 percent of all handmade cigars would fall into this price."

[Cairo]

1 minute ago, T.52 said:

minimum retail price of $12 per cigar

That is what I call a poison pill!    If you are a decent bargain shopper of NCs that is a crazy high price.   I smoke a lot of NC petite smokes--and even the highest end rarely run more than 3 or 4 bucks a piece online.

[NSXCIGAR]

All these PhDs and "experts" at their disposal and the government can't figure out what a premium cigar is. Or that youths aren't smoking cigars that sell for more than a couple bucks for a 5-pack. Why $12? The explanation would be incomprehensible, ridiculous or both.

[BlueRidgeFly]

Yeah, $12 minimum, so much wrong with that. Just the top tier gets to shop online? Ridiculous.

[Diabolicalpherpher]

Seems moot since it will not pass the Senate which the article eluded to.

[Squarehead]

Come to Canada and cry your eyes out of the prices we pay up here and we still manage to smoke

[Joeysmoke]

15 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

All these PhDs and "experts" at their disposal and the government can't figure out what a premium cigar is. Or that youths aren't smoking cigars that sell for more than a couple bucks for a 5-pack. Why $12? The explanation would be incomprehensible, ridiculous or both.

My tinfoil hat theory would be that that's the price where the product really becomes unappealing. I recall hearing stories of cigarettes in New York reaching $10 a pack and the outrage was heard all the way on the west coast.

[Cigar Surgeon]

1 hour ago, Joeysmoke said:

My tinfoil hat theory would be that that's the price where the product really becomes unappealing. I recall hearing stories of cigarettes in New York reaching $10 a pack and the outrage was heard all the way on the west coast.

I'm inclined to agree with you. The purpose of the bill is to turn the water up ever so slightly over time. I've been holding my breath for a Federal flavor ban, followed up by a Federal public smoking ban.

[Rabbi]

9 hours ago, Joeysmoke said:

I recall hearing stories of cigarettes in New York reaching $10 a pack and the outrage was heard all the way on the west coast.

I hope I can do this right. I've already been reprimanded once this week. (BTW, how many demerit points are we allowed? Not that I want to accumulate any more.)

The exorbitant taxes in New York State and City led directly to the violent, avoidable death of a citizen in NYC. I'm trying to avoid politics and hopefully all sides can agree that the death of Eric Garner was both violent and avoidable. Somewhere in the back of my head is a quote that has no reference point, "don't just do something, stand there." I wish all politicians of all stripes would learn that simple little phrase.

[Joeysmoke]

14 hours ago, Rabbi said:

I hope I can do this right. I've already been reprimanded once this week. (BTW, how many demerit points are we allowed? Not that I want to accumulate any more.)

The exorbitant taxes in New York State and City led directly to the violent, avoidable death of a citizen in NYC. I'm trying to avoid politics and hopefully all sides can agree that the death of Eric Garner was both violent and avoidable. Somewhere in the back of my head is a quote that has no reference point, "don't just do something, stand there." I wish all politicians of all stripes would learn that simple little phrase.

I agree with you whole hog!