Men Smoking
Are men caught smoking cigars from Cuba in the US violating the law?
Absolutely without a doubt...Yes. (women are included as well btw) 
It's also against the law for any American to possess a Cuban cigar in a country where they're legal!
Many US Customs officials will let a person bring a few Cuban cigars across, but officials have been told to start being more strict about enforcing the embargo laws. (even for one cigar) If you plan on bringing some into the US, pray that you're met by a lenient Customs officer at declarations.
Here's some history, and facts, for your reading pleasure:
- In October 2004, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a notice stating, "There is now an across-the-board ban on the importation of Cuban-origin cigars," closing a loophole that allowed Americans licensed to travel to the Caribbean island to bring back up to $100 worth of Cuban goods, including cigars. The Treasury Department's notice also said, "US citizens and permanent residents are not allowed to purchase Cuban goods for personal use in another country outside the US. Violation could lead to criminal penalties including fines of up to $1 million for corporations and $250,000 for individuals, plus up to ten years in prison."
- This all began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy banned all Cuban goods from entering the US. (but not before he stocked up on 1,200 Cuban Petite H. Upmann cigars for himself! - lol)
- Did you know?... Winston Churchill smoked more than 3,000 cigars every year. That's about 250,000 over the span of his lifetime. (one that lasted 90 years btw) It's no wonder they named a cigar vitola (size & shape) after him! He even had the Royal Air Force design a special oxygen mask that would allow him to enjoy a big ol' stogie during high altitude flights. (it's true. look it up)
I'm a cigar enthusiast who lives in the US, and I can tell you from experience that, despite the harsh anti-Cuban cigar laws, it's very very easy for any American to acquire Cuban cigars. (I'm smoking a Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey right now) There's still a few loopholes that I'm privy to.
Many cigar smokers feel that it's high time for the old embargo to be lifted. It's been almost 50 years since it was put into effect in an attempt to force Fidel Castro from power. (the theory was that the mandate would cause a huge financial loss to the Cuban people, which the US government hoped would cause them to revolt against him, forcing him from power. Nine presidents later, we're still waiting) It never served it's purpose, Fidel is most likely going to stay in power until he dies of old age anyway. But that's an entirely different (highly debated) topic.
Here, I'm getting tired of typing:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_Cuba
- http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20041004.shtml
- http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/
- http://havanajournal.com/politics/entry/august-2007-ofac-civil-penalty-notice-travelocity-pays-182k-to-settle-claim/
Sorry for rambling on & on, but I could talk cigars for hours. I love 'em. mmmm mmmm!
-vertigo
 |
 1950s VINTAGE PHOTO shirtless MAN smoking cigarette $9.90 Time Remaining: 37m Buy It Now for only: $9.90 |
 1930s VINTAGE PHOTO PC elegant YOUNG MAN reading smoking CIGARETTE $9.90 Time Remaining: 45m Buy It Now for only: $9.90 |
 Vintage Photo O9324 Old man bent over on beach smoking cleaning fish $9.98 Time Remaining: 47m |
 Vintage Photo O8301 People in swimsuits by waterman smoking $5.98 Time Remaining: 57m |
 Vintage Photo O9323 Man from behind in shirts smokingfishing $5.98 Time Remaining: 1h 18m |
 Vintage Photo O5318 Man smoking holding rifles by woman in chair with dog $5.98 Time Remaining: 1h 19m |
 Vintage Photo O5541 Men smoking pipes sitting on wooden stairs with others $5.98 Time Remaining: 3h 14m |
 Vintage Photo O5833 Man in hat smoking on grass by trees $5.98 Time Remaining: 3h 56m |
 Vintage Photo O5350 Man in hat and large pants smoking by palm tree $5.98 Time Remaining: 4h 16m |
 Vintage Photo O9353 Man on sailboat smoking pipe $5.98 Time Remaining: 5h 6m |
 Vintage Photo O5412 Man smoking toasting women $5.98 Time Remaining: 6h 49m |
 Vintage Photo O8151 Girl in dressbabyman smoking pipe on staircase $5.98 Time Remaining: 6h 50m |
 Vintage Photo O8153 Man sitting with kids on staircasesmoking pipe $5.98 Time Remaining: 6h 55m |
 Vintage Photo O8606 Man with arm over womans shouldersmoking $5.98 Time Remaining: 7h 45m |
 Vintage photo K9748 Man smoking by old car $5.98 Time Remaining: 9h 30m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 GLASS DRY PLATE NEGATIVE MAN CHAIR SMOKING CIGAR L171 $13.86 Time Remaining: 9h 31m Buy It Now for only: $13.86 |
 Vintage Photo O8143 Ladies in dresses dancingman in suit smoking $5.98 Time Remaining: 9h 58m |
 TIN TYPE PHOTO K9909 Men Playing Cards Smoking $49.98 Time Remaining: 11h 10m Buy It Now for only: $49.98 |
 Vintage photo K8896 Men in uniform smoking $5.98 Time Remaining: 11h 14m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage photo K9809 Man smoking pipeother cigarette $5.98 Time Remaining: 11h 19m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage Photograph man working on side of house latter ladder smoking $0.99 Time Remaining: 12h 16m |
 TIN TYPE PHOTO K9895 Two Men One Smoking $9.98 Time Remaining: 12h 30m Buy It Now for only: $9.98 |
 TIN TYPE PHOTO K9898 Two Men One Smoking $9.98 Time Remaining: 12h 32m Buy It Now for only: $9.98 |
 Vintage Photo K8119 Men smoking by wallrifle at arm $5.98 Time Remaining: 12h 36m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage photo K9577 Man in suithatsmoking cigar $5.98 Time Remaining: 13h 43m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage photo K9578 Man with pipesmoking on the beach $5.98 Time Remaining: 13h 44m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage photo K9592 Men in suits smoking $5.98 Time Remaining: 13h 57m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 ANTIQUE 1897 STEREOVIEW PHOTO THE NEW WOMAN WASH DAY WOMAN SMOKING MAN WASHING $9.99 Time Remaining: 14h 50m |
 STUDIO PHOTORPPC TWO MAN SITTING SMOKING CIGAR RATE IN PLANE $4.99 Time Remaining: 1d 20m |
 VINTAGE PHOTO MAN SMOKING PIPE BABY CHILDREN OLD PRAM $1.57 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 44m |
 GROUP PHOTO YOUNG MEN AT SKOAL SHOP SMOKING CIGARETTE $24.91 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 55m Buy It Now for only: $24.91 |
 Vintage photo K9766 Man with dog smoking pipe $5.98 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 44m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage photo K9436 Man smoking with hand in pocket $5.98 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 39m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Vintage photo K9292 Old bearded man smoking $9.98 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 30m Buy It Now for only: $9.98 |
 Vintage photo K9294 Smoking man chopping wood with boy $5.98 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 32m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 CABINET PHOTO 2 DAPPER MEN POSING SMOKING A PIPE $27.00 Time Remaining: 1d 19h 32m Buy It Now for only: $27.00 |
 OLD PHOTO MAN STOOD OUTSIDE HEN HOUSE FASHION SMOKING $1.57 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 33m |
 VINTAGE PHOTO POSTCARD GLAMOUR MAN BEARD TRILBY SMOKING PIPE $1.57 Time Remaining: 1d 22h 11m |
 Vintage Photo O2612 Man sitting at table smoking cigar $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 2m |
 Vintage Photo O2614 Men by small christmas tree smoking cigars $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 4m |
 Vintage Photo O4936 Man smoking cigar with object on old car $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 35m |
 Vintage Photo O2610 Men in overalls holding hands outside by boxsmoking $9.98 Time Remaining: 2d 44m |
 Color Polaroid O3278 Man in orange jumpsuit smoking on bed $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 1h 36m |
 Vintage Antique Pipe smoking man photo $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 50m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
 VINTAGE PHOTO MAN NAMED ALFRED GOULD FASHION FLAT CAP JUMPER SMOKING PIPE $1.57 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 12m |
 Vintage 1934 photo Bad Detective in Silly Smoking Old Syphilitic Mans Costume $4.00 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 40m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 |
 SMOKING MAN ANTIQUE MECHANICAL MAGIC LANTERN SLIP SLIDE SLIDING $79.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 7m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 |
 BW Polaroid O3089 Man on couch smoking by womanman behind posed $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 20m |
 Color Polaroid O4298 Black man smoking large cigar in chair by lampdrapes $9.98 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 17m |
 Vintage Photo O2683 Man smoking holding small fishman behind holding horns $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 56m |
 VINTAGE PHOTO BAR SCENE PHOTO VELOX MILITARY MEN SMOKING QUONSET HUT INTERIOR $2.49 Time Remaining: 2d 8h 45m Buy It Now for only: $2.49 |
 Color Polaroid O3531 Man at table smoking cigar by others $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 8h 52m |
 BW Polaroid O3189 Closeup of man on couch smoking by old radio $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 9h 39m |
 Color Polaroid O3642 Woman on couch smokingman lookingmirror behind $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 10h 23m |
 Vintage Photo L2906 Man in suit smoking cigar $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 11h 17m Buy It Now for only: $5.98 |
 Color Polaroid O4304 Black man smoking hugging woman in dress $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 11h 25m |
 Color Polaroid O3933 People in backyardman smoking cigar $5.98 Time Remaining: 2d 12h 14m |
Can"t find what you are looking for? Check out these products from Amazon.