Tuesday, January 31 2012
Q: In your complete honest, unbiased opinion, do you believe
cigars are addicting? I am 22 years old and I do not know much about cigars, but i love the feeling i get when i talk with friends sitting around a bar drinking just a small glass of scotch. I know alcohol can be addicting, but there is no nicotine, which as the media has put it, is extremely dangerous and addicting.
Do you know of any cases where people get addicted to cigars and cannot stop? I have taken one puff before and I find the taste to be pleasant but I do not want to be hooked on cigars for life because they are still cancer causing substances. Are there certain cigars that have less nicotine than others? Sorry for this ridiculous question, I just want to know as much as possible before I take the first step.
- Anthony G. in Japan
A: First of all, since I am not a physician or a psychologist, I'm
not qualified to give a "professional" opinion on addiction. But as someone whose been in the cigar industry a long time, and seen all kinds of cigar smokers, I would- say, yes, they can be addicting, but it depends on several factors.
First and foremost, YOU. If you have an "addictive personality" and you really take to cigars, you may find yourself smoking several cigars a day. As for me, I usually smoke no more than 2 or 3 in one day, whereas some of my coworkers and our readers smoke as many as 8 to 9 cigars a day. From my experience, more than three cigars a day wears out my palate.
A significant number of cigar smokers generally smoke 2 or 3 cigars a week, primarily for enjoyment and relaxation. Additionally, you don't
inhale (at least you should avoid inhaling), and they're natural, so you could say that cigars are a little "healthier" (
and I use that term lightly) than ciggies. If you stick to
mild cigars of high quality (not
machine-made drugstore cigars) at the beginning, you may find that's all you need once or twice a week. That's not to say it can't become a daily habit, but IMO, I don't see much harm in one cigar per day. Moreover, there are many cigars that have less nicotine than others.
If you want a recommendation, start with a mild, premium handmade cigar of very high quality, like an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Flor Fina, Avo Classic, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne, or a Rocky Patel American Market Selection (shown), which Famous sells exclusively.
