Check out CBS42 for additional information.

Of course we support letting each individual business decide whether they want to allow smoking or not.

–Kevin Moore, Editor/Publisher
Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine

Washington, D.C. September 9, 2009 – Is the day coming when you go into a cigar store and can’t buy a single cigar? That day could come sooner than anyone might expect, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.

The Washington D. C. Council has scheduled a public hearing on Bill 18-124, called the “Single Sale of Cigar Products Prohibition Amendment Act of 2009.” The open ended Bill would ban the sale of individual cigars or cigar products that might be used to introduce marijuana into the human body. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 29 in the John A. Wilson building at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington DC 20004.

“There are cigars, and then there are premium cigars. There is a huge difference between them and we need to educate the Council as to what that difference is because this bill, if enacted, would be devastating to all legitimate cigar stores in the area,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR.
“The bottom line is that this is bad legislation that won’t do what it is intended to do – stop the use of marijuana. The only thing it will do is irreparable harm to owners of cigar stores, their employees and loyal customers who enjoy premium cigars.”

The more than 2,000 members of IPCPR sell or manufacture premium cigars and tobacco, pipes and related accoutrements. McCalla says they are, for the most part, owner-operators of small, family-owned businesses who have employees and pay local, state and federal taxes.

“The premium cigars we offer are all hand-made from natural tobaccos. Our customers smoke premium cigars like most people enjoy fine wines. A premium cigar makes ordinary moments special and special moments extraordinary. To deny anyone that pleasure would be like banning beer because someone uses it as a chaser for, say, a shot of bourbon,” said McCalla.

“Legislators keep raising the taxes on premium cigars until they are so expensive people can only buy one or two at a time and now they want to ban the single sale of cigars. Ridiculous!”

McCalla urged all D.C. citizens – smokers and non-smokers – to speak against the bill at the hearing on September 29 or call 202/724-8000 in advance to talk to the Council of the District of Columbia . More information about the Council may be found online at http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/.

###
Contact:
Tony Tortorici
678/493-0313
tony@tortoricipr.com

Return to Southern Cigar Lifestyle

–Kevin Moore, Editor/Publisher of Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine

Illinois Casino Tax Revenues Down $200 Million, Thanks to Statewide Smoking Ban

Springfield, Illinois Aug. 18, 2009 – What could you do with $200 million in tax revenues? If you were the state of Illinois, you might create 5,000 jobs, each paying $40,000 per year. That won’t happen, says the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, because of tax losses stemming from lower casino revenues directly related to the statewide smoking ban enacted last year.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis announced recently that a study by two of its economists proved that the statewide smoking ban enacted in January, 2008 by the state of Illinois was the primary reason that its nine casinos lost $400 million in revenues last year. The 38-page study was reported in the July issue of The Regional Economist and showed that the smoking ban was chiefly responsible for a 22 percent decline in revenues compared to recent years and to the performance of casinos in nearby states.

“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director for the IPCPR. “Businesses everywhere are suffering from the economic downturn while those in Illinois have the added impact of this contemptuous legislated smoking ban. For example, in addition to lower state income, local communities also lost over $12 million in casino tax revenues.”

McCalla criticized anti-smoking organizations for dismissing out of hand the economic impact of legislated smoking bans.  “We have the economists at the Federal Reserve Bank to thank for proving once and for all that legislated smoking bans are bad for the economy. In times like these – let alone ever – do we really need legislated smoking bans? Absolutely not! Legislators should be doing everything they can to create jobs, not destroy them,” he claimed.

IPCPR members are mainly small business owners of mom-and-pop cigar stores and manufacturers and distributors of premium, hand-made cigars, pipes and related accoutrements. There are more than 2,000 members worldwide with 64 of them in the state of Illinois.  “Casinos aren’t the only businesses to suffer with legislated smoking bans. And when business goes down, employees are eliminated or the businesses close. That means loss of jobs and loss of tax revenues. Nobody wins.  “We’re not against individual business owners declaring no smoking on their premises. It’s their right to do so. It’s local, state and federal governments that should not interfere with the rights of individuals,” McCalla said.

###

Return to Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine Homepage

I have to admit that I do not think that the staff of the shop was expecting such a huge turnout.  I am guessing that somewhere between 120 and 150 people showed up.  There was a line at the register from customer’s purchasing cigars.

I got to spend a few minutes with Rocky and was very impressed by his professionalism and at the same time he was extremely personable.  The crowd was too large to spend much time with any particular people, but he still took as much time as possible for talking cigars, posing for pictures and signing autographs.

At the end of the evening Rocky spoke to the group as a whole and spoke highly of his visit to Alabama.  He also spoke about growing tobacco, the blending process to describe how much labor goes into hand rolled cigars.  My favorite part was at the end where he gave a huge push for customers go join the Cigar Rights of America. He told a few stories of the legislation that is going on all over the country to prohibit our freedom to enjoy our cigars. We need to be proactive and join for the annual cost of 4 or 5 of our favorite cigars.

Rocky Patel and staff and fans of Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine.

All in all it was a great night for the Cigars and More, Rocky Patel and Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine.  I have had mixed results (as far as my preferences are concerned) with the Rocky Patel seasonal blends, but I have become a HUGE fan of the 2009 Summer Blend.  Great medium bodied cigar with a bit of a peppery spice to the smoke.  I have always been a fan of the Edge and the Rocky Patel Sungrown.

Rocky Patel Southern Cigar Lifestyle Cover September 2009

Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine got some great pictures for an upcoming cover story on Rocky.  I arranged to do an interview at IPCPR in New Orleans the second week of August.  I look forward to spending some time with him.

To view/download pictures of the event, you can go to PhotoBama. Dennis Lathem generously donated the pictures in the hopes that visitor’s will join the Cigar Rights of America.

–Kevin Moore, Editor/Publisher
Southern Cigar Lifestyle Magazine

Return to Southern Cigar Lifestyle Homepage