FDA Regulation

Hey FDA...KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY CIGARS!

Right now there is an active movement by the nanny-state, anti-tobacco zealots that want to take away your God given right to enjoy a cigar. If these prohibitionists get their way, the FDA will expand their cigarette & smokeless tobacco regulations to include cigars. So what would this mean for you?

• Walk-in humidors, self-serve cigar displays and mail order cigar sales would be banned.

• All flavored cigars such as rum, cognac, bourbon, vanilla and coffee would be banned.

• Ornate, decorative cigar boxes would be covered with grotesque, graphic images of dead people.

• Cigar events with free cigars would be banned.

• Cigar advertising would be limited to black and white "tombstone" ads.

• New user fees (taxes) would be imposed on your cigars to fund the beurocrats at the FDA to regulate your cigars.

• Special release and limited edition cigars would be a thing of the past since all cigars would have to undergo extensive (and expensive) testing and be approved by the FDA.

• Nicotine levels in cigars could be regulated to near zero levels...bye bye strong cigars.

Now if all of this has got your freedom loving, proud to be an American blood boiling, there is something you can do about it. Right now there is a bill in Congress (H.R. 1639) called "Traditional Cigar Manufacturing & Small Business Preservation Act". This bill would clarify the Tobacco Control Act so that the premium cigars that you and I love would be "hands off" by the FDA.

To get this bill passed, we need your help. Call, write, email or meet your congressman and senators and ask them to support H.R. 1639. We have a handy link on CoronaCigar.com where you can easily email your elected officials.
Courage,

Jeff Borysiewicz
President & Founder
Corona Cigar Company

1-888-70-CIGAR
www.CoronaCigar.com
www.Facebook.com/CoronaCigar

Click Here and Urge your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor HR1639!

IPCPR 201

Hello all it’s been a long time. A lot has happened since I’ve last written; I have a wonderful girlfriend, my favorite football team won the Superbowl Go Pack Go and I work a lot at two wonderful jobs which has kind of taken up a little of my time but since the football season is over and I have a little more time I’m back and ready to write.

I’ve been thinking lately that I need to write about my wonderful trip to the IPCPR in New Orleans. Now seems like a good time to me. So I arrived In New Orleans on Tuesday at 9:45am. I called the hotel as soon as I landed they were kind enough to let me store my bags until I arrived back from the show. After checking in I walked over to the New Orleans Convention Center. Where I waited in line for about an hour. I had no idea what to expect. Thanks to my wonderful friends at Miami Cigars and Guillermo Leon for having a badge waiting for me at the counter when I walked up. When I walked through the door it was like heaven. There were so many vendors and the wonderful smell of cigars in the air. This was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The first stop I made was at my home away from home Miami Cigars. When I walked up I saw all of my friends and there was a cigar waiting for me the Nestor Miranda Art Deco. What a way to start the show. While smoking my first cigar Guillermo walked up to me and gave me a cold Pesidente Beer. After I left their booth I made my way around the Convention Center where I met up with Jose Oliva, Christian Eroia, Matt Booth, Paulo Garzaroli and Alan Rubin. Alan was someone I was really interested in meeting because i’ve never met him before. He was kind enough to ask me back to hang out with him the next day. After making my way around and smoking some awesome cigars I made my way back to the Miami Cigars booth. When I arrived Rene asked what I was doing that night. Since I had just arrived I had no plans. Rene asked me to join them at an after party on Bourbon Street. I of course joined them. It was awesome we had get hors devour, cold drinks and interesting conversation. I met some really cool guys from Texas that owned a cigar shop. At the party Guillermo Leon gave everyone a sampler of all the sizes of the Guillermo Leon Signature cigar. We shot the shit for a while afterward we walked inside to see some of the most beautiful women dancing. We joined them for a few minutes until we decided to walk around New Orleans and check out the sites. After walking around for a while we decided to head out and get some sleep.

Wednesday morning I got into the show early since I was with a distributor. This day I started the show with the Guillermo Leon Signature. Today was a little busy at the booth so I decided to grab a Presidente and make my way around the show again this time hoping to see booths I wasn’t able to see the first day. Wow that was a really cool experience to visit smaller cigar manufacturers we I found two really good cigars the San Lotano and the Viaje (which won #2 cigar of the year). I visited Graycliff again when I was given an almost blood red labeled Graycliff. Paulo asked me if I was hungary which I was so he gave me some conch chowder that his chef made for him to bring to the show. While eating the chowder I was given some 35 year old Macallan. I walked around the show bumped into my friends from the night before had lunch with them and made my way around the rest of the show. I met up with Alan Rubin had some really interesting conversation about the cigar lifestyle. From there I made my way to the Torano cigars where I learned about the single region. That’s a unique idea to grow all of the tobacco used for the cigar all on the same farm. Towards the end of the show I met up with Neil and Alex from Corona Sandlake. That night I decided to go to Harrah’s Casino right next to the convention center. I broke even then decided to go back to the hotel and get some sleep.

Thursday it was a little hard for me to get up but I did and got to the show at 9:45am. I walked into the Miami Cigar booth where I sat across from Pepin Garcia and Jamie. We talked about the cigars they are rolling for Miami Cigars. That was a surreal moment for me. While sitting there I saw Alex and Neil and decided to walk around with them today. We saw even more new cigar makers and stopped into booths I wouldn’t normally go into. We stopped by Drew Estate nickname Shoe Estate. His booth were full of custom painted shoes. We ended up meet up with Jeff Borysiewicz and his lovely wife Tanya. We walked around stopped into the Davidoff Booth saw a couple of accessories manufacturers then stopped for lunch. After lunch I was talking to Tanya where she asked me why I don’t work for them. I had for three months. We ended up walking around the show until it closed where Alex and Neil left to come back to Florida, Jeff went to lead a CRA meeting and I went and hung out with my friends at Miami Cigars drank a lot of beer and smoked a lot of cigars. After the show officially closed I walked back towards my hotel with both Jeff and Tanya. After a few steps Jeff asked me, “Why don’t you work for us?” I laugh and say Tanya asked me that earlier. Tanya then proceeded to tell Jeff I’ve worked for them for three months. We all laughed. Then Jeff asked me what I was doing that night. I said, “ more then likely sleeping.” He told me to meet them back at their hotel in 20 minutes. I set my bags down and proceeded to their hotel. I sat down in the bar and talked to Tony “Stretch” Gomez and his rep Justin. Watched some of the saints game. I got a call from Jeff telling me it was time to go to dinner. We got on the bus that took us to the Aston dinner. We were one of the last people to make it to the event. We walked in and were treated to an Aston White Label to go with the pre dinner drinks. Then we were asked to find our table by our rep. Our rep is Sexy Rex. I sat at a table with a lot of cigar shop owners in Florida. We told a lot of funny stories and had a blast. After we talked for a while the waiters walked around with a menu that was designed for us by Emeril’s. While the salads were being served Rex handed us the Aroma De Cuba Especial Edition 2010 blend. It was awesome. Then came dinner Steak, spinach salad and potatoes. The after dinner cigar was my favorite the Aroma De Cuba Mi Amore. For dessert they served us a chocolate cigar on top of coconut shavings and custard. It was awesome and after dessert we were given the Aston ESG. What an amazing night. At Dinner I met David Savona from Cigar Aficionado. What an interesting man. After talking a lot and exchanging great stories we decided to head back since I had to leave early.

Friday marked my return to reality. I left with a suitcase full of goodies I was given at the show. I got 3 gallon sized ziplock bags full of cigars. I can’t thank everyone enough for the hospitality. I can’t wait for next year. I hope to see everyone there Vegas 2011.

Tobacco Taxes for States

I've attached a link to a USA TODAY article on today's front page.

How ironic that the states, in a time when many representatives are trying to KILL smoker's rights, are now looking to INCREASE TAX REVENUES from tobacco to fund their state budget shortfalls.

The message is clear here. Reach out to your state representatives and let them know that as a taxpayer, you have rights as well - rights that are helping in these economic times.

It seems like a never-ending cycle. We need the states to leave tobacco taxes alone.

First Columbia, now Lexington, SC

Early this year, Columbia, South Carolina’s City Council considered the idea of changing its smoking ban law so that cigar bars are exempt (retail tobacco stores ARE currently exempt, but not cigar bars that serve alcohol). Now, Lexington, it’s neighboring town 20 minutes to the west, is thinking about allowing bar and restaurant patrons to smoke outside on decks and patios.

“It’s something Mayor Randy Halfacre wants the council to consider for fairness sake. At restaurants elsewhere in the county, diners can light up outside,” reports WIS-TV. Lexington is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina.

Some are hoping the law stays just like it is though, and object to the smoke that can waft over from one smoking table to a non-smoking table outside.

The Lexington Town Council may hold a hearing on the issue this month, according to The Greeneville News.

CRA Call-To-Action: KANSAS and INDIANA

Let's help our friends in Kansas and Indiana!

Do you know....

....the FACTS about the Florida Cigar Industry??? As listed at the 2010 Florida Cigar Summit, here are a few FACTS about the Cigar Industry in Florida:

• Cigars have been made in Florida since 1831
• Today, 70% of the cigars sold in the U.S. are either made or imported through Florida
• There are over 250 Small Business "Mom-and-Pop" cigar shops in Florida
• There are over 60 Family-Owned, Small Business Cigar Manufacturers, Leaf Dealers, Importers and Cigar Company Headquarters in Florida
• Cigars are enjoyed as a SOCIAL hobby, not as an addictive habit
• Cigars are an ADULT product that are very price sensitive - demand is greatly affected by increasing taxes, especially taxes related to total weight
• Cigar taxes are JOB KILLERS!
• Cigar taxes increased 700% last year at a Federal Level, one of the highest tax increases on any product in recorded history!
• Last year's cigar tax increase in Florida led to the closing of the 105-year old Hav-a-Tampa factory in August of 2009, putting 500 people out-of-work in the middle of a recession.
• Over 5,500 people are still today directly or indirectly employed in the Florida Cigar Industry; any additional tax on the state level would put most of them out of work.
  

CONGRATULATIONS ALEX DIAZ!

Congrats to Alex Diaz, CRT @CoronaCigarCo for a perfect 105% on his final Tobacconist University CRT Exam! Make sure to congratulate him in-person at Corona Cigar Company's Sand Lake location!!

CRA Ambassador Interview with Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar Co.

Good interview from my fellow CRA Ambassador Mark Brownlee!

CRA Ambassador Updates

Just some quick notes from the February CRA Ambassador meeting:

• CRA Membership is +85% vs. Jan 2009
• CRA Ambassadors have increased from 75 to 81 since Jan 2009
• Key Legistlation facing Cigar Enthusiasts: MASS
  (see attached link for details on how you can help)
• Southern CRA Alliance is driving membership, but key gains have been made in Northern, Mid-American, and Westen Alliances.
• There will soon be a way to contact your local CRA Ambassador via email. Check CRA website for details.
• You can download the CRA Toolbar at the CRA Website Home Page. Every download raises money for the CRA - it's easy and adds a nice touch to your internet access! ;)
• Check the CRA Website for upcoming events in your area...new events to drive membership, awareness, and action coming soon!

Best and Long Ashes to all!

CigarLibre

CRA Call-To-Action: MASS

Here we go again...yet another state that is trying to raise Cigar Taxes to help fund their budget and agenda. Write your representatives and let's put our on "VETO" on this one before it goes to vote!!

NY Lawmakers Have LOST It!

Not only is this a tactic to scare consumers, but it's absolutely ridiculous!

*** Cigar Rights of America ***

Are YOU a member of the CRA??

Cigar Trade Shows Equal Jobs & Economic Impact

Reposted from the Las Vegas Review Journal


EDITORIAL: No smoking at the tobacco show


More folly from local Nanny Staters


The Tobacco Plus Expo and the Retail Tobacco Dealers convention (the latter held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center) drew 27,000 attendees with a $41 million economic impact over the past six years, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors authority.


But last year, due to Nevada's Draconian law against indoor smoking, exhibitors and attendees at the Tobacco Plus Expo -- scheduled to return to the Convention Center in March -- were not allowed to sample tobacco products.


Near the end of the 2009 Legislature, lawmakers repaired that problem with a modest patch. Amending a bill already in the works to limit stalking, they added an amendment to AB309 to allow smoking at tobacco conventions.


Now comes the American Cancer Society with a lawsuit. Because the measure was added as an amendment to the anti-stalking measure, it violates the state constitution's single-subject rule, the society claims.


In fact, the prohibitionists appear to have read the constitution incorrectly. The single-subject provision was installed to block voter initiatives which contain hidden, "Trojan horse" provisions. It has never before been considered a limit on lawmaking by the elected legislators.


"The title of the law refers to smoking and stalking as the crimes," Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich said. "There are many laws passed that include more than one crime."


This lawsuit is likely to fail. At which point, the courts should order the prohibitionists to reimburse the convention authority and Nevada's taxpayers their legal costs. But more important is what this effort again demonstrates.


It would be an understatement to say the tobacco prohibition zealots -- this latest effort demonstrates once again their goal is step-by-step prohibition, not merely "protecting the children," who tend to be thin on the ground at tobacco conventions -- don't give a hoot about Nevada's jobs or economy. Look at all the kitchen and food-service workers who lost their jobs when the smoking ban hit bars and taverns.


Now, with Nevada still up to our armpits in the worst recession in half a century, the zealots want to reverse a modest and common-sense attempt to keep tobacco conventions heading this way by allowing attendees -- adults who have paid to be there -- to sample exhibitors' perfectly legal wares?


That's like saying your booze and lingerie conventions are welcome in Saudi Arabia -- though of course no one in attendance will actually be allowed to taste the hooch or see the underwear.


This is Nevada. Those who don't like gaming, drinking, smoking and a host of other adult activities long tolerated here have 49 other states to choose from. But that's precisely what they can't stand, isn't it -- the thought that somewhere, even if it's far away in some remote and forbidding desert, adults may be participating in a consensual activity of which they do not approve.

Corona Cigar Makes Endorsement Offer To Tiger Woods

Sports News

Orlando-based Corona Cigar Company Offers Tiger Woods "Smokesperson" Deal

$100,000 Endorsement Deal Extended to Troubled Golfer

Orlando, Florida 12/18/2009 05:44 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

Orlando, Florida December 18, 2009 - Central Florida's largest and most exclusive premium cigar retailers is offering a lifetime supply of cigars and a $100,000 endorsement deal to Tiger Woods, bucking a trend set by several of the troubled golfer's current or former sponsors, including Accenture, Gatorade and Gillette.

"Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time and, although we do not condone his or anyone's alleged extramarital affairs, nothing pairs better with golf than a premium hand-made cigar," said Jeff Borysiewicz, president and founder of Corona Cigar Company.

According to Borysiewicz, Woods has frequented Corona Cigar in the past accompanied by his long-time friend Charles Barkley, the National Basketball Association's former all-pro power forward.

"Who are we to judge? We welcome Tiger to our stores any time and are quite serious about the sponsorship offer," Borysiewicz said.

There has been no word from Woods regarding Corona Cigar's proposal.

About Corona Cigar

Corona Cigar Company is a leading premium cigar retailer with three cigar superstores and cigar bars in Central Florida's Greater Orlando area and online at www.CoronaCigar.com. Including membership in other leading civic, trade and consumer organizations, Corona Cigar is a founding sponsor of Cigar Rights of America (CRA). Jeff Borysiewicz, founder of president of Corona Cigar, is a member of the Board of Directors of CRA and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR).