A resurgence in pipe smoking?

It sure is. But I'd love to see the figures from 2004 to as recent as are available.

+100^^^^^^^^^^^!!!

This is how we raise 'em...

I remember that in the 1970s, I was in the Army and served with a lot of pipe smokers during my 8 1/2 years of service. In my last unit, NCO meetings with the First Sergeant were foggy with pipe smoke. One SSG smoking a white briar with a mix of Cherry Blend and Mixture 79. Another smoking a cob with Prince Albert. Still another with one pipe or another from his collection smoking Borkum Riff Bourbon. I smoked a prince shape with Amphora. A few other pipesters among enlisted and officers.
There doesn't seem to be as many people enjoying this hobby since the " tobacco nazis" have become so vocal.

I believe that buying and selling tobacco on the Internet will be severely restricted by the FDA within the next five years and I look for the USPS to refuse accepting packages containing any tobacco within the same time period. That said, I predict when this older generation dies out, during the next 20 years, it will mark the end of pipe smoking. Not much evidence that supports pipe smoking is on the rise, but even if it is, obtaining tobacco is going to be almost impossible and very expensive.

AJ

I copied this from The FDA web site. They had the internet selling of smokeless tobacco prohibited in the USA.

AJ

Regulations

Under the Tobacco Control Act, FDA has broad authority to regulate the sale and marketing of tobacco products to improve public health, and protect children and adolescents from the harms of tobacco use. Retailers can play an important role by complying with federal regulations on the sale, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products. Read a summary of the federal rules for tobacco retailers.

This stuff may seem crazy, but remember the context: tobacco products in America have had no regulation whatsoever, none, since the dawn of consumer products legislation.

Tobacco was consciously exempted from every food, drug, and consumer products bill for quite literally one hundred years.

The 2009 bill assigns massive responsibilities to the FDA, and it also imposes some confusing/ambiguous limitations on the FDA, but it's the first-ever attempt to regulate tobacco at the Federal level.

Thanks for answering my question, guys... Esp for that link, AJ.

We all have our crosses to bear.   

AJ

I think you missed the statement's humor. It was intended to point out the irony in choosing the Chinese government's behavior to help justify the FDA's involvement. Did you ever consider that USA pipe smokers (& others) think that the FDA is operating as an oppressor not a liberator in this matter? Many of us do not see this action as a step in the right direction, but an example of big brother stepping on our lives; kind of like what “communist” China might do.

Note: One can easily interpret the Chinese tobacco regulations as natural to a strong centralized plan and control structure, more than likely motivated by things other than any strong sense of altruistic care for its people; i.e. communism as played out in history.

We are speaking about pipe tobacco regulation and the FDA, correct? So you think that defeating the FDA's intrusion into pipe tobacco would be a sad day and use the example of a “good thing” (i.e. tobacco regulation) that the oppressive*1 “Communist” Chinese government's did (i.e. A government known for oppressing its people is putting us to shame.) as one justification to support your position? I am sorry. I really do not think that regulating pipe tobacco constitutes a great day for the USA or believe your lament fits the situation. The potential loss of business, increase business costs, the end of the pipe blend renaissance, the expense to consumers' pockets etc. etc. *2 for me outweighs any benefit the FDA might bring. In addition, the pipe tobacco industry has done a fair job overall of regulating itself. So where is the justification? Simple we know this is more about the champions of “health” pushing their agenda, than issues with production, chemicals/drugs (nicotine etc.) or the children. Lets not forget, we are smoking a natural product ( It appears that nothing harmful or addictive is added to pipe tobacco unlike cigarettes; If in doubt take a pipe tobacco plant tour, they have nothing to hide.) treated with a casing, typically sugar water, to produce a more smoke-able product (With aromatics an additional topping(s) is(are) added.). Pipe smokers understand the score, our activities' possible consequences, and simply wish for our freedoms to go unmolested. We have already been forced into our own smoking habitats, causing little to no harm to others while facing ever increasing state & local pressure to conform. Still those who want to be our nannies come treading over us, never satisfied. Sound like freedom to you?

*1 Lets not pretend that the Chinese government is under Mao and his minions anymore ;-). Oppression still exists in China, but the weight and degree of said suffering is not what it once was (I believe you are aware of this and am simply pointing out that the weight one gives to your point can be distorted by past history.). By looking to the West, the Chinese government oversees a country revitalized and more dynamic through limited though rather progressive (meant in a nonpolitical way) capitalistic reforms. There are much greater things to motivate us in terms of an "oppressive" China getting it right than tobacco regulation.

*2 What will probably happen as things stand (discounting further FDA involvement) is many blends grandfathered in will probably continue untested (Some companies might not wish to import tobacco to the USA while others might close their doors (like McClelland)), most, if not all, blends produced thereafter will be gone (There might be some companies who will pay and/or absorb other brands/blends for approval.) and the boutique/start up pipe making companies will more than likely perish. So we are left paying even higher taxes for tobacco, with untested & fewer blends/pipes to choose from and little to nothing to show for it. Hmmmm
There is more but I would like to get back to the question of the thread if you do not mind?

PS Yes FDA intervention probably will get worse over time, given the approach used thus far and the utopianistic dreams of others.

I’m not happy about the changes in pipe tobacco.

I’m very, very happy indeed to see action taken on cigarette regulation.

We are collateral damage.

China isn't ahead of the United States if you believe free people themselves are more inclined and smart/ responsible enough to regulate themselves. I'll leave it at that cause I'm not here for politics. But take your China admiring ...and

Oh for Pete's sake, those people go about by the millions with white filter masks over their faces all day long throughout their cities. Absolutely nothing good they have to offer in regulation guidance to improve mankind's condition. Doing the exact opposite is the right direction. My friend here, from China was explaining to me that he could never get a hotel room with his girlfriend because they weren't married. Top of that, you have to get government permission just to travel between cities. Want to buy a kitchen knife? Yeah well first your name and id code must be etched on the blade. Government regulations on any tobacco, yes I hate cigarettes, is an infringement of American liberty. I live in Sweden. I assure you, Socialist paradise does not exist and never has.