Cigars
Overview
A cigar is defined as a roll of tobacco wrapped in leaf tobacco or in a substance that contains tobacco (as opposed to a cigarette, which is defined as a roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or in a substance that does not contain tobacco).1,2
The three major types of cigars sold in the United States are large cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars:1,2,3
| Type | Description | Market Share* |
|---|---|---|
| *Percentage of U.S. market for cigar products4 | ||
| Large cigar | Cigar that typically contains at least one-half ounce of aged, fermented tobacco (i.e., as much as a pack of cigarettes) and usually takes 1–2 hours to smoke. | 16% |
| Cigarillo | A short (3–4 inches) and narrow cigar that typically contains about 3 grams of tobacco and usually is made without a filter. | 33% |
| Little cigar | A small cigar that typically is about the same size as a cigarette and usually made with a filter. | 51% |
In 2008, cigar sales in the United States rose 8.3% and generated more than $4 billion in retail sales.4
Cigars contain the same toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes.1,2
Health Effects
- Regular cigar smoking is associated with an increased risk for cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx (voice box), and/or oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, throat).1,2,3,5
- Cigar smoking is linked to gum disease and tooth loss.3
- Heavy cigar smokers and those who inhale deeply may be at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.1,2,3
- Heavy cigar smoking increases the risk for lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.1,2,3
Current Cigar Use
Adults
Percentage of U.S. adults who were current cigar users in 2008:6
- 5.4% of all adults in the United States
- 7.7% of African American adults
- 5.5% of American Indian/Alaska Native adults
- 1.3% of Asian American adults
- 4.6% of Hispanic adults
- 2.0% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults
- 5.4% of white adults
High School Students
Percentage of U.S. high school students who were current cigar users in 2007:7
- 13.6% of high school students
- 7.6% of female high school students
- 19.4% of male high school students in grades 9 through 12
Middle School Students
Percentage of U.S. middle school students who were current cigar users in 2006:8
- 4.0% of middle school students
- 2.7% of female middle school students
- 5.3% of male middle school students
Overall
In 2008, an estimated 13.1 million people (or 5.3% of people 12 years of age or older) in the United States were current cigar users.6
NOTES:
- Adult is defined as persons aged 18 years or older.
- High school student is defined as students in grades 9 through
12.
- Middle school student is defined as students in grades 6 through
8.
- Current cigar use in all tables above is defined as smoking
cigars on 1 or more of the 30 days preceding the survey.
Marketing Information
In 2008, the two leading brands of cigars in the United States had more than 50% of the market:4
- Swisher Sweets® (with nearly 30% of the U.S. market share)
- Black & Mild® (with 23% of the U.S. market share)
Marketing efforts promote cigars as symbols of a luxuriant and successful lifestyle. The following marketing strategies all contribute to the increased visibility of cigar smoking in society:1,2
- Endorsements by celebrities
- Development of cigar-friendly magazines (e.g., Cigar Aficionado)
- Images of highly visible women smoking cigars
- Product placement in movies
In 2001, the Federal Trade Commission mandated that cigar packaging and advertisements must display one of five "SURGEON GENERAL WARNING" labels on a rotating basis:9
- Cigar Smoking Can Cause Cancers Of The Mouth And Throat, Even If You Do Not Inhale.
- Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer And Heart Disease.
- Tobacco Use Increases The Risk Of Infertility, Stillbirth And Low Birth Weight.
- Cigars Are Not A Safe Alternative To Cigarettes.
- Tobacco Smoke Increases The Risk Of Lung Cancer And Heart Disease, Even In Nonsmokers.
References
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
The Rise of Cigars and Cigar-Smoking Harms
.
(PDF–49.78 KB) Washington: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2009 [accessed 2010 Feb 10]. - National Cancer Institute.
Cigars: Health Effects and Trends
. Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph No. 9. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 1998 [accessed 2010 Feb 8]. - American Cancer Society.
Prevention and Early Detection: Cigar Smoking
. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, 2009 [accessed 2010 Feb 5]. - Maxwell JC. Cigar Industry in 2008. Richmond (VA): The Maxwell Report, April 2009 [cited 2010 Feb 4].
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Health Consequences of Smoking: Cancer. A Report of the Surgeon General
. Rockville (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office on Smoking and Health, 1982 [accessed 2010 Feb 5]. - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables
.
(PDF–49.85 KB) [accessed 2010 Feb 8]. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Surveillance Summaries 2008;57(SS04):1–131 [accessed 2010 Feb 8].
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006 National Youth Tobacco Survey and Key Prevalence Indicators. (PDF–160.90 KB) [accessed 2010 Feb 8].
- Federal Trade Commission.
Nationwide Labeling Rules for Cigar Packaging and Ads Take Effect Today
. Washington: Federal Trade Commission, 2001 [accessed 2010 Feb 3].
For Further Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
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