Go check out the crowd at your local cigar lounge, and what immediately jumps out at you? It used to be old and male. As more women have joined the ranks of smokers, you’d say it’s old. And if you’re wondering why so many young adults don’t smoke premium cigars, the answer isn’t as simple as you might think. Put differently, there are very few patrons under the age of 35 at the cigar lounge. So, why do few young people smoke premium cigars? We’ll suggest four reasons — two legitimate and two not-so-legit but oft–cited — why young adults don’t smoke premium cigars.
Premium Cigars are Too Expensive for Young Adults
The phrase, “cigars are just too expensive for young people!” rolls easily off the tongue. However, it’s a reason you don’t see more young adults smoking premium cigars, but it’s really not a legitimate reason. Premium cigars cost roughly the same as a cocktail out. And younger adults often have a handful (or two) of alcoholic beverages on a night out. They smoke other substances, some legal and some not so legal, that cost much more than a premium cigar. They also spend plenty of discretionary money on many product categories. Young adults often don’t have kids or mortgages. So, cost isn’t the real reason young adults don’t smoke premium cigars.
Premium Cigars Take Too Long to Smoke
Blame it on TikTok or some other clickbait app of the month! Sure, society has changed. Yet, Time reported that science shows how many, including young people, struggle with shorter attention spans than their seniors. The reality is speed. Society as a whole is moving faster across generations. Older people find time to enjoy cigars. And why not? Cigars are the perfect companion for hours of mindless screen surfing or a myriad of other activities. Cigars don’t require undivided attention. That is another false reason why young adults don’t smoke premium cigars.
Young Adults’ Friends Don’t Smoke Premium Cigars
Here’s the real reason you don’t see young adults at the cigar lounge: their friends aren’t there. It isn’t “cool,” or they didn’t have a good initial experience with premium cigars (more on that later). The reality is that most 20-somethings want to socialize with people their own age. Not people of their parents’ generation. The current situation is that lounges aren’t full of young adults. Could that change? Who knows? Maybe the answer is to look at the rise in female cigar smokers. It’s a chicken-or-egg thing.
Young Adults’ First Premium Cigar Fell Flat
At any age, you’re only going to become a regular cigar smoker, a true lover of the leaf, if you have early positive experiences with premium cigars. There are many reasons an initial experience could be bad.
- You didn’t know how to properly cut, light, or smoke (don’t inhale!) the cigar.
- You tried a lower-end cigar or something that isn’t even a premium cigar, like the 2/99 cents machine-made at the gas station.
- The cigar was poorly cared for (wet/dry) and didn’t smoke well.
- You were already inebriated, and the cigar hit you wrong.
- Or, you were outdoors in the cold, wind, or rain.
There are many reasons you might have an initially bad experience with cigars. As a premium cigar smoker looking to bring younger (legal smoking age) adults into the hobby, how do you set them up for success and give them the best chance of appreciating premium cigars? Take them to an indoor lounge or other suitable place. Make sure they aren’t inebriated, although a pairing is fine.
Select a good initial cigar for them; it doesn’t have to be great. Show them how to cut, light, and smoke it properly. Then explain that they can put it down or rest their cigar. Prep them for the experience. Let them know that it will take an hour or so. If they like it, great — maybe they’ll come back for more. If they don’t, that’s fine too, and this introduction shouldn’t be pressure-filled. Cigars aren’t for everyone.
Who knows? Things may change, and more young people will smoke. But even if things don’t change, soon enough this generation will get old(er) and start enjoying cigars anyway!
Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy
Editors’ Note: Cigars should only be enjoyed by those old enough to smoke legally. “Young” in this article refers to anyone 21-35.