David Savona

>	About Me
>	My Main Blog Page
>	My Blog Archives

Most Recent Posts:

>	Cigars and Football January 25, 2010
>	Smoking Cigars in Nicaragua December 06, 2009
>	Meeting Jose Oliva In Miami November 30, 2009
>	Big Day at the Big Smoke November 14, 2009

Florida Smokers, Unite

Posted: 09:57 AM ET, April 14, 2009

If you're anywhere near the Tampa, Florida, area, you owe it to yourself to grab a few fine cigars and head to 215 N. Dale Mabry Highway this afternoon. At 4:30, the Cigar Rights of America, Tampa’s own J.C. Newman Cigar Co. and Naples’ Rocky Patel Premium Cigars are leading a rally of cigar smokers to protest SB 1840, a bill that would tax cigars by the ounce, adding about 50 cents, 75 cents or more to each cigar you buy. (Click here for the details)

And that tax would come on top of the recent 35-cent per cigar boost that went into effect on April 1 thanks to SCHIP.

Eric and Bobby Newman of J.C. Newman, the company behind Diamond Crown and Cuesta-Rey cigars, will be there along with Rocky Patel. National media outlets are expected to attend, so get out there, fire up a heater and show your support for your fellow smokers.

“With the nation in one of its deepest recessions in history,” wrote the CRA in a call to action email, “now is not the time to burden Florida's struggling cigar consumers, local community cigar retailers and family-owned manufacturers with such an onerous tax.”

Sounds right to me. Everything seems to cost more these days, and money is tight—this isn’t the time to hit people with a second ridiculous price increase.

I’d be there if I could, but I’m not near Tampa today. If you are, get to the rally point: the parking lot of a restaurant called Village Inn, at 215 N. Dale Mabry Highway. It starts at 4:30 p.m. Bring some great cigars, grab a few cigar smoking buddies and stand up for what you love before someone makes it too expensive for you to enjoy.

(2 comments on this post) Submit your comments >

Reader Comments

User Name: Jose Blanco Posted: 03:22 PM ET, April 14, 2009

Guys, Enough Is Enough, if we do not start to fight, one of these days they will say no Sex or Beer if you don't pay Tax, let's get it going.

User Name: Brian K Wolfe Posted: 12:58 PM ET, April 17, 2009

quote:Everything seems to cost more these days, and money is tight�this isn�t the time to hit people with a second ridiculous price increase.unquote More paper money chasing the same amount of goods and services is the beginning of hyper-inflation. Late last year I began stocking up and I don't know if i could fit another 5 pack in my cabinet humidor.

Submit your comments

Access to ratings and tasting notes for more than 12,000 cigars
Sneak previews of the best cigar ratings from Cigar Aficionado magazine - weeks before they are released to the public.
Plus: The twice-monthly Cigar Insider newsletter, with exclusive cigar news and extensive cigar ratings, many of which will never appear in Cigar Aficionado magazine.