BL-24 - Flipbook - Page 160
TRIVIAL PERSUITS
all its members through partnerships like our Masterclass
with FIU, or our commissioned book release in 2027.
Hopefully, non-smokers understand that if they support
these prohibitions, someday something that they enjoy
could face the same unjust treatment.
PCA is striving to create career paths in the premium
cigar sector, and not just a paycheck that people fall into.
Education and learning are essential to the industry’s
longevity moving forward. Without investment in this area,
the association and industry will tread water rather than sail
to their destination.
RC:
Turning to regulation, many readers enjoy cigars but
may not follow the legal battles behind them. How
would you describe the current landscape for premium
cigars in the U.S. and some other parts of the world?
What are the major victories, and what key challenges
remain?
JH:
There is no shortage of challenges: from taxation and tariffs
to generational smoking bans and restrictions on the ability
to smoke indoors and outdoors. These changes are present
in localities in the United States and in countries around the
world.
Fortunately, the data, research, and court precedent are
on our side in differentiating premium cigars from other
tobacco products. The three court victories against the Food
& Drug Administration are major victories that will have a
lasting global impact as the battle昀椀eld shifts to small towns
and far-off countries.
RC:
Premium cigars are, at their core, about culture,
community, and craft. What message would you give
our readers, many of whom see cigars as one of life’s
great pleasures, about what makes this culture worth
defending?
JH:
Do not shy away from being in the premium cigar industry
at any level: retail, manufacturer, or consumer. It is an
honourable profession and pastime that we need to preserve
for the next generation to make their own decision about
whether to enjoy a cigar when they are of legal age.
Do not be fearful of the social stigma around smoking,
and continue to savour cigars with friends, family, or in
a contemplative state on your own. Premium cigars can
represent the celebration of moments to remember, a shared
social experience between people, or just sheer relaxation.
Whether it be a recreational hobby, your career, or your
lifestyle, this industry is worth protecting, which is why
I am committed to making sacri昀椀ces, handling adversity,
and remaining resilient, leading the PCA for many years to
come.
RC:
The idea of generational bans on tobacco has been
spreading internationally. What’s your view on this
type of legislation, and what does it mean for personal
freedom and cultural heritage?
JH:
This is nonsensical public policy that will lead to many
issues, including black market sales. Fundamentally, this
policy discriminates against adults in deciding whether
or not to enjoy a premium cigar. What’s next? Gin? Slot
machines? Coffee?
Beyond the product itself, these initiatives are the most
troubling because governments step in to make decisions
in place of individuals. Personal freedom is at stake more
broadly than any one product category.
Christopher Gilmour, Ranald Macdonald, Alejandro Turrent &
Ricardo Carioni at Casa Turrent’s tobacco plantations in San
Andres, Mexico 2025.
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