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Cigar Smoking - The Facts
Cigar smoking causes a variety of cancers, including cancers of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, throat), oesophagus, larynx and lung.
There is evidence that strongly suggests that cigar smoking is associated with cancer of the pancreas.
Many of the cancers associated with cigar smoking have extremely low cure rates.
Daily cigar smoking, particularly among those who inhale, also causes an increased risk for coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease.
Smoking one or two cigars per day doubles the risk for oral cancers and oesophageal cancer compared to someone who has never smoked.
Someone smoking one to two cigars daily increases the risk of cancer of the larynx by more than six times that of a non-smoker.
Whether or not cigar smokers inhale, they directly expose the lips, mouth, throat, larynx and tongue to smoke.
Cigar smokers and cigarette smokers have similar levels of risk for oral, throat and oesophageal cancers.
Cigar smokers have increased risks for lung and laryngeal cancers, although the risks for these diseases are lower for cigar smokers compared to cigarette smokers.
Because cigars contain a greater mass of tobacco than cigarettes, they generate greater amounts of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Exposure to ETS can damage the health of non-smokers.
Cigar tobaccos contain high concentrations of nitrogen compounds which, during fermentation and smoking, give rise to increased levels of several tobacco-specific nitrosamines - some of the most potent human carcinogens known. The concentrations of nitrogen oxides, ammonia, carbon monoxide and tar are higher in cigar smoke than in cigarette smoke.
Most cigars contain nicotine in quantities equivalent to several cigarettes. Nicotine is the agent in tobacco and tobacco smoke capable of producing addiction or nicotine dependence.
Since 1993, cigar use in the United States has increased nearly 50 percent. This is in contrast to cigarettes where consumption has declined by 2 percent since 1993.
Analysis of industry's annual tobacco returns suggests that tobacco used in cigars in 1997 was the highest reported since 1990, at 15 tonnes. The previous highest year was 1995 when 11 tonnes was used. Between 1995 and 1997, therefore, the volume of cigar tobacco released for sale increased by approximately 27 percent.
A recent study on cigar and pipe smoking states that, in recent years, cigar consumption has risen in the United States with cigar smoking becoming particularly popular with teenagers .
Studies in the United States report high rates of cigar use among teens and pre-teens. Usage appears to be increasing among adolescent females as well as males. Some researchers are concerned that the current high rate of adolescent cigar use may result in a higher probability for nicotine dependence in this younger age group.
There is also concern that the use of cigars may predispose individuals to the use of cigarettes.
In New Zealand, there is evidence over recent years of an increase in the prevalence of the use of cigars. This increase seems to be across-the-board (male/female, Maori/non-Maori). However, data suggest that the increase in smoking cigars may be most marked among Maori and among young adults aged 15 to 24 years.
For the latter, the estimated prevalence of cigar smoking was 0.59% in 1991, increasing to 1.11% in 1998. Cigars vary in size from the size of a cigarette to more than seven inches long. Large cigars typically contain between five and 17 grams of tobacco (compared to approximately 1 gram for a single cigarette). Some premium cigars can contain the tobacco equivalent of an entire pack of cigarettes.
The above information (except that separately referenced) is from: National Cancer Institute. 1998.
Cigars: Health Effects and Trends
. Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph (10/04/1998).
Recent Action by the Ministry of Health (1999/2000)
Section 3A of the Health Act 1956 requires the Ministry of Health to improve, promote and protect the public health. As described above, cigars are clearly a risk for health.
The Ministry of Health has a statutory obligation to administer legislation for which it is responsible and to investigate clear breaches of this legislation. Failure to carry out this duty can result in judicial review. The risk of review is of particular significance in legislation like the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 (the Act) where the ordinary citizen has been deprived of the right to initiate prosecution action. The appropriate officer (Director-General of Health) charged with that obligation is at least obliged to consider prosecution action.
Section 22 of the Act prohibits the publication of any tobacco product advertisement in New Zealand. Tobacco product advertisement is defined as:
'any words, whether written, printed, or spoken, including on film, video recording, or other medium, broadcast or telecast, and any pictorial representation, design, or device, used to encourage the use or notify the availability or promote the sale of any tobacco product or to promote smoking behaviour…'
Books, magazines or newspapers printed outside New Zealand are exempted, unless their principal purpose is the promotion of tobacco products.
When administering legislation, the Ministry balances freedom of expression and speech issues alongside the need to both implement the law and the need to prevent the promotion of tobacco products which, when used as the manufacturer intends, kill half their consumers an average of 14 years early.
The Ministry has also been concerned about an increase in the promotion of cigars. An article in the April 1999 issue of Retail Today states that cigar sales in New Zealand increased 9.2 percent in dollar terms in 1998. It goes on to say:
"Magazines like Cigar Aficionado, which features cover pictures of celebrities chewing on large cigars, have boosted the image of the cigar industry….The spate of cigar magazines now hitting bookstands is credited with the revival in cigar sales in the US."
Many media comments on the tobacco advertising ban have centred on the freedoms inherent in the Bill of Rights Act 1990. The Ministry notes that section 4 of the Bill of Rights contemplates that there will, from time to time, be legislation which is not consistent with the Bill of Rights.
When the Smoke-free Environments Bill was considered by Parliament in 1989/1990, the significant health effects of smoking and the need to discourage its promotion were considered to override the right to advertise and promote these deadly products . A similar stance is taken in relation to other issues such as the display of child pornography or the promotion of violent activity or racial hate material. In these cases Bill of Rights issues are considered secondary to protecting the population from harm.