Cigar Weekly

Casa Cubana is outraged at the latest tactics used by government-funded anti-tobacco groups. In their world of "the end justifies the means", anti-tobacco groups in Canada have felt it increasingly necessary to use kids in their attempt to manipulate public perception, create public outrage and force governments to over-regulate tobacco products. Over-regulation of tobacco products in Canada, has we have witnessed several times over the last decade - often leads to much greater problems for our country and effectively undermines the very health objectives governments purport to promote and defend.

"These extremist groups are now tricking "kids" into promoting their self-serving agendas against tobacco" - says Luc Martial (in charge of government affairs with Casa Cubana, and formerly with the Non-Smokers' Rights Association, the Canadian Council on Smoking and Health, the National Clearinghouse on Tobacco and Health, and the federal government (Health Canada). "While perhaps well-intended, these kids and their youth-oriented anti-tobacco groups are unfortunately simply regurgitating misrepresentations actively promoted by anti-tobacco extremist groups. These kids, unfortunately, have not learned to question the information being force-fed to them by people and organizations that on the face of it...seem trustworthy. And that's the problem."

These youth organizations recently called upon Québec's Minister of Health to ban the use of flavours in tobacco products - citing the use of flavored cigarillos as an emerging problem among youth. If youth organizations like "La gang allumée" were actually "allumée" - then they would realize that the issues they are raising are simply misguided. It is well known that high school kids have always been (and will likely always be) unfortunately experimenting with drugs, alcohol and yes, even tobacco. Government research, however, now clearly suggests that high school kids are by far greater consumers of alcohol, gambling products and marijuana (compared to tobacco products). According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), alcohol is now by far the most common substance used by Canadian youth. A recent national school survey of students in grade 7-9 found that about 66.6% had already consumed alcohol. Provincial surveys of junior high and high school students showed that 50% - 66% were current users of alcohol. Cannabis is the second most common used substance - and the first illicit drug used by our kids. Provincial surveys showed that 25% - 33+% of junior high and high school students used cannabis.

The fact is that alcohol and marijuana use are now much greater problems among youth than tobacco. It's important to note that the market for specialty tobacco products in Canada (which include premium cigars, little cigars, cigarillos and cheroots) - continues to represent less than 1% of all tobacco products sold and consumed in our country. More to this point, the very same flavours in cigarillos that youth groups are now requesting that government ban - are similarly and in much greater varieties found in alcohol products distributed in government-run liquor stores, supermarkets and general retail outlets. How come these kids are not asking the Minister of Health to ban the use of flavours in alcohol - when four times more kids consume alcohol than tobacco?

Since anti-tobacco groups are not willing to give these youth groups all of the facts - then we thought we would start. Further to the statistical research document actively promoted by anti-tobacco groups and now youth groups (Institut de la Statistique du Québec -Enquête québécoise sur le tabac, l'alcool, la drogue et le jeu chez les élèves du secondaire 2006) - the following provides a much clearer understanding of tobacco use among kids:

- 38% of minors (12-17) who smoke said they bought themselves tobacco

products at legal retail channels.

- 28% of minors who smoke bought tobacco products from friends or school

peers.

- 38% of minors who smoke asked a third party to buy tobacco products for

them.

- 14% of minors who smoke obtained tobacco products from their parents.

- 8% of minors who smoke obtained tobacco products from their

brother/sister.

- 43% of minors who smoke obtain tobacco products free of charge from

their friends.

- 6% of minors who smoke obtain their tobacco products from other,

non-identified (in the questionnaire) sources.

- 63% of minors who smoke did so with the consent of at least one of

their parents.

So if these youth groups actually care about youth and tobacco issues,

perhaps instead of misguidingly calling for a ban on flavored tobacco products

they should call for the following actions from the government:

1. The introduction of a youth possession law in Québec (as currently

exists in the provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia). Strict fines and

penalties would either be issued to minors (directly) or to legal

guardians and parents. A youth possession law, as an integral

component to the province's tobacco control strategy, is sorely

needed. Such a law would lend credibility and communicate a

sustainable message to kids and parents. More to this point, such a

law would penalize those parents who currently condone their

children's involvement in breaking the law (i.e. illegally acquiring

tobacco) and would empower those legal guardians and parents who wish

to effectively end their child's access to such products;

2. Dramatically increase fines and penalties for retailers caught selling

tobacco products to underage Canadians. There is absolutely no reason

why the government of Québec should penalize the vast majority of

responsible businessmen and women in the province - for the illegal

behavior of a few. The legal industry would support greater penalties

to anyone caught breaking the law and selling to minors;

3. Invest more resources in enforcement and compliance - to include more

inspectors, more inspections and the development of a truly productive

partnership with retailers in Québec on sales-to-youth prevention

programs;

4. Develop youth-specific campaigns on the subject of access to tobacco

and smoking - that would equally address the issue of parental

consent, and illegal supply (friends, family, peers); and

5. Possibly increase the legal age requirement for buying tobacco and

smoking tobacco products in the province, from 18 to 21.

Casa Cubana is a Montreal-based importer of quality cigar products. Established in 1998, the company's reach extends throughout Canada with a sales force servicing approximately 10,000+ direct accounts - to include wholesalers, retail chains, independent retailers, gas bars, grocery stores and the duty-free channel. In the province of Québec, Casa Cubana has ore than 4,400 legitimate and responsible private sector partners who distributes its products to tens of thousands of legal-aged and responsible consumers.