The high death rate of English World War II veterans triggered a government
study in the 1950s-60s that correlated the rise of veteran deaths (around 70
years or less) to the increase in tobacco consumption during World War II. I
suppose archaeological investigations of European battlefields should reflect
this consumption, as in reading SITEO (online fortification website) cleaning out
of German bunkers yielded high quantities of tobbacco artifacts. Studies in
Iraq have shown a spike in tobacco consumption by American soldiers and
marines. In both theaters, WW II and Iraq, American tobacco companies donated free
products in a so-called spirit of patriotism. This seems relevant to the cigar
discussion.

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.