Heinrich Villiger and 5 cigars Answers: At the beginning of 2021, I sent Heinrich Villiger 5 questions on the subject of \u201eLaws against cigars\u201c. Heinrich Villiger is a living cigar legend. To complement this article, and so that you can get to know Heinrich Villiger a little better, I have a nice bonus for you: After his 5 answers, you will also find a film that I produced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of \u201e5TH Avenue Products Trading-GmbH\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to my request for an interview, he replied: \u201eDear Vasilij, I am happy to answer your 5 questions - from my perspective - as follows.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The WHO - World Health Organisation - is a global organisation for the protection of human health. If I am not mistaken, the WHO has around 100 member countries that finance this organisation based in Geneva. The latest news before the swearing-in of the new US President \u201eBiden\u201c: The USA, or rather Trump, recently stopped making payments to the WHO because he is not satisfied with its performance. The WHO considers tobacco consumption to be the greatest preventable cancer risk - lung cancer as a result of cigarette smoking in particular. Of course, the cigarette industry also realises this and has launched a very large number of \u201ealternative products\u201c on the market in recent years, which are no longer burnt but \u201evaporised\u201c with less (or no) lung-damaging residues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As these products are not tobacco products, they cannot be taxed as tobacco products. Here the opinions of the industry on the one hand and the tax authorities on the other are not in agreement - the states cannot do without tobacco taxes. In Germany - just as an example - the tobacco tax on cigarettes alone amounts to one billion euros per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two parties involved: the state on the one hand and the cigarette industry, which has developed these new \u201ealternative products\u201c itself, on the other. The arguments of the cigarette industry and other manufacturers are that these new products are less harmful and should therefore not be taxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this whole issue is much more complex: it also involves the well-known smoking bans (as in the catering trade, etc.). Do these new products also fall under these? The question is controversial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are - and always have been - the four \u201eclassic\u201c categories of tobacco products: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-> the so-called \u201efine cut\u201c for \u201erolling\u201c home-made cigarettes (by the consumer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-> the industrially manufactured mass product \u201ecigarette\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-> Cigars and cigarillos (machinemade and - in the case of cigars - also \u201ahandmade\u2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-> the pipe tobacco<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also the order of importance, including for the tax revenue in the coffers of the finance ministries. But for the \u201ehealth apostles\u201c, smoke is smoke, regardless of where it comes from. At least - in our favour - cigar and pipe smokers are certified as not inhaling the smoke like cigarette smokers and are therefore \u201ehealthier\u201c smokers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The big question is indeed where the development is heading, which we are of course also observing. The two new categories ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Dispenser Systems) and ENNDS (Electronic Non Nicotine Dispenser Systems) - i.e. the vaporisers of \u201etobacco plugs\u201c and so-called \u201eliquids\u201c in all possible and impossible flavour variations - have achieved a considerable market volume in recent years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even traditional tobacco shops cannot avoid this business. Cigarettes are particularly affected by this. According to our market observations, cigar and cigarillo smokers remain loyal to these brands. The sales trend for handmade or hand-rolled cigars from the Caribbean (Cuba and the Dominican Republic) and Central America (Nicaragua and Honduras) is particularly positive. Cigar production is \u201ebooming\u201c in these countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, the cigar industry is currently doing well (worldwide). It has only been marginally affected by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the duty-free business has suffered because all air travel has collapsed. But cigar smokers continue to smoke and buy their cigars from \u201econventional\u201c retailers. I therefore take a positive view of the future of our industry. The \u201eimage\u201c of our products is and remains positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n