Snus is Gonna Take Over!

[Ragnar]

Once again, I think you're overestimating the power of "Big Tobacco" marketing these days.

[chadizzy1]

In the short term, I think that smokeless, particularly snus, is going to
supplant cigs.

I think we'll see this in the long term. I remember when you could smoke EVERYWHERE. Remember ashtrays in the arm-rests on Airplanes? Remember when the smoking section WAS the restaurant? Remember the guy pacing in the hospital waiting room was smoking?

Now, a mere decade or two later, you can't smoke anywhere.

We tried to be nice to you non-smokers. We ****ing tried. OK? You wanted your own sections in the restaurants. We gave you that, huh. But that wasn't enough for you. Then you wanted the airplanes. We gave you the whole godamn plane! You happy now? I will guarantee you if the plane is going down, the first announcement you're gonna hear is: "Folks, this is your Captain speaking. Look, uhm, light 'em up, 'cause we're going down, okay. I got a carton of Camel non-filters, I'll see you on the ground."

I think as smoking is more of a social no-no and the FDA stepping in, smokeless tobacco (if you see EVERYTHING RJR is doing with Camel Orbs/Strips/Snus you can see they realize this to) is going to become a big deal.

But, I think it will be a long term thing for it to be a majority, if/when that does happen.

[groverthesnake]

Ragnar, the public will definitely embrace any nicotine supplying product
that is not illegal or cost prohibitive, is as satisfying as snus is, and is heavily marketed by the big tobacco companies.

I think you meant to say:

the public will definitely embrace any product that is heavily marketed by the big tobacco companies

Probably, as long as it supplies nicotine.

[justintempler]

All you have to do is look to Sweden.

Snus may very well suprass cigarettes as the dominant tobacco product but it will never reach the point of mainstream acceptance.

[Multinic]

Well, there are actually two scenarios, call them the optimist's and the pessimist's scenario:

The optimistic one:

A victory for rationality and freedom. The anti-tobacco hysteria ends up where Prohibition and the temperance movement ended up 70+ years ago (the trash heap of history). Snus becomes as acceptable as coffee, due to increased awareness of medical research. People realize that government prohibitions (in general) are incompatible with a free society. Individual business owners decide whether to allow smoking or not (this could happen both because of pro-liberty values, or because ETS propaganda is seen for what it is). Widespread snus use makes it socially acceptable to enjoy the occasional cigar etc., since smokers are no longer "killing themselves." Innovations in the tobacco industry provide an increasing variety of tobacco products, with higher quality and lower risks and costs in all market segments.

The pessimistic one: The American government, under the influence of the health fascists and pharmaceutical corporations, decide to outlaw all tobacco products. Other countries follow suit (as they did after the smoking ban in California's bars in 1998). With a new legal monopoly, nicotine gum prices (+ new "addiction taxes") are raised to unprecedented levels. Drug cartels diversify and start selling cigarettes, dip, and snus on street corners. Homicide rates go up, up, and up. The prison population goes up too, requiring more taxes and police to fight the "War on Tobacco." America attacks Cuba, not because of communism but to stamp out cigar production. Sanctions are imposed on Sweden for its "immoral practice" of producing a hard-to-detect nicotine delivery device. Sweden bans snus in order to save its economy. Official travel advisories (first in the US, and then in Europe) warn travelers against traveling to regions where they may be exposed to smoke and tobacco traffickers. Etc.

[rkh3]

I believe the Feds still give tobacco farmers subsidies, i.e. pay them not to grow tobacco.
There is a contradiction!

[jtwh20]

I believe the Feds still give tobacco farmers subsidies, i.e. pay them not to grow tobacco.
There is a contradiction!

They've been doing that for years already....