A BRIEF HISTORY OF CIGARETTES

There has never been a produce that is both loved and hated as much, or by so many people, as the cigarette. There are those who exalt its pleasures while others consider it evil and crusade to reduce its use and existence. It is not clear when the first “cigarette” was consumed, but it is reported that tobacco was smoked within the husk of a corn cob as early as 1518 in Mexico. While there are many definitions used to classify tobacco products as cigarettes, primarily for taxation principles, we will simply define them as finely shredded tobacco which is wrapped in paper, smoked, and inhaled for consumption. Roll-Your-Own (RYO) and Make-Your-Own (MYO) cigarettes refer to tobacco which is sold “loose” for the consumer to make their own cigarettes.

While it is not possible to date the first use or consumption of the cigarette, the industry would start to flourish after the 1830s when Virginia varietal tobacco agriculture was expanded to the inland Piedmont area of Virginia and North Carolina. Farmers moving west during the early 1800s discovered that the sandy, grayish soil in the Piedmont region produced a thinner, less heavy leaf that was lighter in flavor than previous cultivation. More specifically, the Flue-Curing process that was used on these Virginia varietals yielded a tobacco that was more acidic than its predecessors or counterparts. finally, the lighter flavor and aroma of the Virginia tobacco, coupled with its higher acidity made it ideal for inhalation. Paradoxically, the alkaline properties of stronger, darker tobaccos used for Cigars and Pipes made it not practical, if not impossible, to inhale. By 1864, a mild and light varietal of air-cured Burley, known as White Burley, was developed and was suitable for inhalation/cigarettes as well. Either through accident or coincidence these tobaccos emerged in time to help create a whole new economic and social force: the American Cigarette industry.

By the time of the Civil War, American soldiers determined the pleasures of rolling cigarettes from Bright tobaccos. This trend would give birth to the American Cigarette: a cigarette which is mostly comprised of Bright Virginia tobaccos. Another well-liked cigarette emerged during the 1800s from Oriental tobaccos grown-up in eastern Mediterranean countries: they are known as Turkish Cigarettes. While Oriental tobaccos are Sun-Cured and lower in nicotine content, they have a richer flavor and became popular for blending with Bright Virginia tobaccos. Consequently, during the 1800s, the two main families of cigarettes were born: American and Turkish. In addition, the blending of these different tobaccos, including Burley and Maryland, led to a assortment of cigarette products designed to suit a myriad of tastes and strength preferences.

During the first half of the twentieth century, mass-produced cigarettes became ubiquitous, cheap, and the ultimate pacifier for people coping with the challenges of the accelerating pace of life. Modernity and the cigarette were perfectly compatible. For a myriad of reasons, millions of people have sought comfort, solace, relaxation, and adrenaline from the cigarette. That people take pleasure from it is irrefutable. Through unparalleled print, radio, and television advertising, the cigarette industry sold adventure, sophistication, sexuality, and pleasure to consumers who voraciously inhaled it all. By 1950, almost half of the U.S. population smoked cigarettes, and many people believed it was a cleansing and healthy activity.

January 11, 1964, the Surgeon General publicly released the report that declared cigarette smoking to be a health hazard. Within a year the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would mandate that all cigarette packs and advertisements be clearly marked with a health warning, known as the Surgeon General’s Warning. In 1998, after years of litigation between state courts and the cigarette industry, leading U.S. cigarette producers signed an agreement with the Attorneys General of 46 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, known as the Master Settlement Agreement, or MSA. Previous agreements were already signed with the other 4 states. Collectively, these agreements are known as the state Tobacco Settlement Agreements, or TSA. While the TSA is a large and composite contract, the major principles are:

• Fundamental changes to the way cigarettes are advertised, marketed, and sold in the United States, with particular emphasis on protecting children.
• The creation and funding of the American Legacy Foundation, which is devoted to anti-smoking education and counter-advertising to the cigarette industry.
• Perpetual payments by the companies to the states (over $200 billion by 2025).

In exchange for agreeing to the TSA provisions, the states agreed to end civil litigation aimed at recouping healthcare costs associated with cigarette smoking. The TSA does not release participating manufacturers from civil claims from individuals, classes of individuals, or the federal government. Ultimately, the TSA has fundamentally changed the social and political landscape for the cigarette industry and consumers. Today, the industry is the most highly taxed and regulated commerce in America, and has the unique distinction of being the only industry legally required to fund its opposition.

At present about 25% of Americans smoke cigarettes. In much of the developing world smoking is on the rise, partly because it is still considered emblematic of advancement, fashionable, and attractive. On the other hand, anti-smoking laws are more prevalent today than ever before. The European Union and the United States are quickly moving towards being smoke-free societies. Smoking has been banned in most public and private places throughout the U.S.. Today, there is almost no place left to enjoy tobacco products. And all of this societal backlash against “smoke” is directly related to cigarettes and the health costs associated with their consumption. Of course there is also significant anger against the cigarette companies for shaping public perception to improve their own profitability.