The History of Tobacco Infographics

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Action Being Taken On Tobacco Smugglers

Tobacco smuggling has been an industry that is hard to control. However, Britain has finally taken control and is winning the war concerned with cheap cigarettes being imported illegally. The products are usually targeted at children and those who are short on money, giving them a deal that is very hard to refuse.

Currently, the black market operates at 9%, a massive fall from figures in 2000, where one in five of cigarettes was sourced from the black market. The amount of smugglers fell by 22% over the same period of time, showing just how much the black market has fallen. Cheap cigarettes made it easier for people to obtain cheap cigarettes, meaning they were readily available and also avoiding tax on the products. The cheaper the cigarette the more appealing they will be to children, which is encouraging younger people to take up the habit.

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Therefore, the British Government is taking action against the black market, with most action being taken by the UK Boarder Agency and HM Revenue & Customs. The action came due to businesses in the tobacco industry worrying that smugglers were taking a large fraction of their trade and are also worrying the introduction of standardised cigarette packets would encourage more people to produce black market products as they are easier to counterfeit.

MP’s have denied that the tobacco industry has anything to worry about but are taking more precautions to put their minds at ease and it seems they don’t have anything to worry about, with the amount of smugglers still decreasing considerably. Previously, some tobacco cigarette manufacturers deliberately exported more cigarettes than needed, knowing they would be smuggled back into the UK. There has been action taken against this and it is unlikely this problem will continue.

Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco is a form of smokeless tobacco. In order to release flavour and nicotine the user must chew on the tobacco. There are different forms of chewing tobacco that are manufactured all over the world. Chewing tobacco was most popular in America during early 20th Century until cigarettes became popular. There are four main types of chewing tobacco that are listed below.

Loose Leaf Tobacco: This type of tobacco is also known as snuff and is chopped to create loose leaves. It is packed in aluminium-lined pouches and is widely available and easy to use. It gives the user the stimulating effects of nicotine without inhaling any smoke and it simply dissolves in the mouth.

Plug Tobacco: Using molasses to sweeten it, it comes in pressed blocks that the user has to cut or bite off in order to consume it. This is a great option for first time users due to the sweetness of the product. They have a lot of moisture and flavour.

Twist Tobacco: It is spun and rolled to resemble ropes and twisted to form a knot. There is less moisture than plug or loose-leaf tobacco in twist tobacco and it is possible to smoke rather than chew.

Dipping Tobacco: This is a very moist type of tobacco and is traditionally ground or shredded. Very similar to loose leaf tobacco it also goes by the name of moist snuff. It can have a range of different cuts depending on the comfort for the user.

Tobacco Bits: These are flavoured and sweetened tobacco that the user chews. Tobacco Bits are small bits of tobacco so are eaten individually, like mints. Chewing tobacco isn’t as popular as it used to be due when it came to light that it could be as harmful as cigarettes and cause cancers in the mouth and throat. Chewing tobacco also went out of fashion when cigars and cigarettes started to be imported more readily, however it was a sign of masculinity in the 20th century.

Iconic Smoking Scenes

Smoking has long gone hand-in-hand with Hollywood blockbusters. From the days when actors would actively endorse different tobacco brands in between feature presentations to now when smoking signifies a rebellious, devil-may-care attitude to authority and the rules. Connotations of down-to-earth rugged action are often born from the simply drags of a cigarette on screen. Here are some of the most iconic smoking scenes from the silver screen.

It is a guarantee that Sharon Stone would not have been smoking Cheap Tobacco in Basic Instinct. One of the most famous scenes in movie history when her leg switch revealed more than was reportedly intended. It is reported that it was not the intention for her to bare that much flesh but only happened because the underwear she wore was reflecting light and had to be removed. The cigarette in hand only served to ramp up the sexual energy in the scene.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Pipe Tobacco smoking Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings. As one of only 6 wizards in Middle Earth, it may have been hard for many to identify with Gandalf. However, the act of smoking a pipe and enjoying simple pleasures served to make him easier to connect to for audiences whilst retaining his quiet and wizened dignity.

Dustin Hoffman delivered one of the most famous and iconic lines in movie history when he caught Mrs Robinson pulling seductively on a cigarette in her living. The smoking middle aged woman has been a symbol of sexual excitement for almost as long as films have been made. The act of smoking created a sense of authority and empowerment within Mrs Robinson that could not be fought.

During The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Clint Eastwood retains a cigar in his mouth throughout the entire Mexican Standoff. The control and poise created by the clenched jaw signified a powerful man who astutely judged the situation and acted accordingly. Many men have since tried to reenact the scene with a single cigar bought from their local Tobacco Shop. 

Potential Developments for the Electronic Cigarette Industry

The Electronic Cigarette industry is one that is really taking off. It is estimated that by the end of 2013, over 1 million UK citizens will own and Electronic Cigarette. With the Tobacco industry being so large and lucrative, this number looks set to only rise. The negative stigma that was attached to the industry has now all but ended. With the product being sold in many a Tobacco Shop, 2013 looks set to be the year when Electronic Cigarette dominance begins.

Here are a few potential developments and additions to the Electronic Cigarette industry.

Electronic Pipe

Enjoy the all-enveloping sensation that is Pipe Tobacco without any of the side effects. A simple add-on to the exterior of the Electronic Cigarette will give the appearance of a pipe. Stronger tastes can be added to the cartridge of the Electronic Cigarette to create the full pipe smoking sensation.

Mix & Match Flavours

Similar to shovelling two types of Tangfastics down your throat at once to create unique flavours and sensations, mix & match tobacco flavours will serve to keep the joy of smoking an Electronic Cigarette alive. Clever taste pallets will be developed in a manner similar Dulux paint charts to provide guidance to new mixers. No two Electronic Cigarette smoking experiences will be alike.

Coloured Smoke

The aesthetic appeal of coloured smoke emanating from the smoker’s mouth and the end of Electronic Cigarette will be improved incredibly with the inclusion of coloured smoke. Patterns will dance around the mouth. Make shapes, rings and blocks that will embarrass Gandalf’s efforts. Now that you are allowed to smoke inside make the most of it by creating beautiful imagery. Compete with your friends and family as to who can create the most awe-inspiring northern light inspide mass of colours, smoke and beauty.

  

Make Your Own Shag Tobacco

Alongside the taste and smell sensation of smoking Pipe Tobacco, the relaxing, meditative nature of pipe smoking is one of its biggest draws. There is a metronomic enjoyment to be had when preparing a pipe to be smoked. Slowly and concisely packing the pipe with quality Pipe Tobacco before taking long, hard drags and being enveloped by the smoke and smell is all part of the experience and enjoyment. Further encourage this enjoyment by bypassing the Cheap Tobacco from your local off-license and create your own shag tobacco to pack into the pipe.

All forms of tobacco are derived from tobacco leaves that have been dried and seasoned. Shag tobacco is no different despite its small size. Most commonly used in cigarettes but can be just as enjoyable smoked through a pipe or in a cigar. Take the tobacco leaf and cut into fine strips with a pair of scissors. Roughly make all the strips about two inches long and 1/3 of an inch wide. If you are using pre-cut tobacco from a Tobacco Shop, remove three pinches from the packaging.

Take a tobacco grinder and place three strips between the teeth of the bottom half of the grinder. Ensure that the strips are evenly distributed across the bottom of the grinder. When the tobacco is firmly pressed between the grinder’s teeth and there are no foreign bodies inside the grinder close the lid.

Twist the top half of the grinder back and forth numerous times to shred the tobacco into a shag cut. When the lid twists smoothly, the tobacco has been sufficiently grinded. By tapping the bottom of the grinder against a hard surface, the tobacco will be collected in the chamber in the bottom of the grinder. Remove the grinded tobacco from the collection chamber and pack into the pipe. The shag tobacco is now ready to smoke and enjoy.