PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

14 PCA The Magazine | SHOW 2021 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG Gov’t Briefing cont. an employee waiver, that essentially removes the debate on “involuntary exposure to second hand smoke.” Nebraska’s legislature took steps to define premium cigar lounges and exempt them from a sweeping smoking ban court action. Dozens of states have recognized the difference between “a bar” and a “cigar bar and lounge,” and they did so because of the demographic, public health, commercial, and product differences they represent. It’s time to take this story nationwide, and proactively seek exemptions in those states and communities that want to treat adults like adults. The defeat of these bills should be a rallying cry for retailers, manufacturers and consumers to further engage lawmakers to highlight the distinctiveness of premium cigars, and the venues that welcome them. It’s time for legislators to recognize that the consumer profile, usage patterns and public health impact are, in fact, not that which is claimed by public health groups. Our opposition is organized, well-funded and active. PCA and its members need to combat fiction with fact in the debate over the establishment of these venues . PCA Represents Industry Before National Academy of Sciences In Washington, D.C., the PCA kicked off a series of presentations to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Committee on Health Effects and Patterns of Use of Premium Cigars. PCA’s Head of Government Affairs Joshua Habursky presented an opening statement on the preliminary research questions of the committee that is undergoing a literature review of existing information on premium cigars in a study set to be published in 2022. The study is federally funded by the Food & Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. This session was the second public meeting of the committee comprising over a dozen public health and medical professionals. The third meeting took place on April 23, where PCA’s Executive Director Scott Pearce presented remarks on the retail perspective and the unique characteristics of premium cigars sold by tobacconists versus other tobacco products. The main stakeholder session featured several organizations within the cigar industry, along with organizations such as the Truth Initiative and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “It is important for PCA to assert positive research and data about premium cigars to this committee whose findings could have an impact on future policy considerations and regulatory recommendations,” notes Pearce. The core function of the committee is to: 1. Conduct a comprehensive and systematic assessment and review of the literature to include patterns of use for premium cigars, and how those may differ among cigar types and other tobacco products, as well as data on both short- and long-term health effects of premium cigars. 2. Establish a list of recommendations for future research. 3. Prioritize the list of recommendations for future research to inform FDA’s regulation of premium cigars to protect public health. G O V E R N M E N T B R I E F I N G