I've been smoking cigars since I'm 13. Started with cherry Tiparillos, moved up to Robert Burns Black Watch and then celebrated my driver's license with a box of Macanudo Baron de Rothchilds (about $50 back then at Markowitz Bros newstand in downtown Scranton, PA, baby!)

Admittedly, 13 was probably too young but 16 sounds about right. After all, it's not like he's going to start smoking one or two a day -- maybe limit him to sharing a few a month with you and if he sneaks one or two out of the humi, who cares?

Maybe it'll be a good way to teach him moderation BEFORE he goes off to college.

I started smoking cigars at 17, my daughter started at 12. Boy was my wife pissed, but who cares Little T loves her cigars, so why not enjoy them.

I started smoking cigarettes at 16 despite growing up in a virulently non-smoking household. Look, they're going to do what they're going to do regardless of a parental endorsement.

I wish someone had started me on handrolled cigars then and I could have saved myself from ingesting so many Export A's.

quote:

Originally posted by Scottological:
I have a niece who is seven years old. She lives a pretty sheltered life. I mean, at seven all she's pretty much learned is how to ride a bike. So I thought I'd introduce her to cigars.

It was great. Sitting in the cigar bar with your seven year old niece, teaching her how to clip a cigar, how to light it, what flavors to look for. She got sick a little bit, but that might have been from the scotch.

Afterwards, she gave me a hug. "Thank you, uncle," she said.

And I knew she meant it.

I laughed hard. What a great way to start a day.

quote:

Originally posted by Scottological:
I have a niece who is seven years old. She lives a pretty sheltered life. I mean, at seven all she's pretty much learned is how to ride a bike. So I thought I'd introduce her to cigars.

It was great. Sitting in the cigar bar with your seven year old niece, teaching her how to clip a cigar, how to light it, what flavors to look for. She got sick a little bit, but that might have been from the scotch.

Afterwards, she gave me a hug. "Thank you, uncle," she said.

And I knew she meant it.

That was the booze talking. (Great post! )

Funniest thing I've heard all day Scott. I agree with many on the board that 16 would be an okay age for this and a good way to teach him moderation. I was raised in a house that was pretty athoritarian. Might have been some of the reason for my rebellious behavior in my mid and late teens. If he really wants to he will, with or without you. I might be mindful of him adhering to rule of moderation. If he sneaks a few from the humi, as mentioned in a previous post, then he may not view this new hobby in the same light as you. Just my opinion, for what it's worth. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I am 21 and in high school it wasn't a matter of if I would smoke/drink but to safe about it. Meaning no drinking and driving etc. Now I never did smoke, and rarely did I drink. I am now a cigar smoker as my dad is, and I did that when I was 17. Now is smoking cigars every day alright for a 16 year old? No. But a special occasion cigar could be in order every 1-2 months.

While it may be considered "contributing to the delinquency of a minor," done in moderation,and in a controlled environment, I believe it is OK.
Same question with alcohol? My step-son, when he was 16, wanted to have a beer party with his buddy. OK, I set the rules:1 You guys can drink all the beer that you want after you surrender your car keys. 2. You are not leaving the house until tomorrow morning.
I served them my homebrew. They each drank two mugs, while challenging each other to "Chug it down Dude!" They were happily asleep by 9pm.
Was I morally wrong? It's a tough call. The hard fact is that they would have procured some alcohol anyway and drank it on the streets. The step-son learned the hard way a few years later when his motorcycling buddy had one too many, then died in his arms after a horrible crash.

Your son will smoke wether you let him or not. Period. First show him all the aflictions and cons of smoke and smoking and if he persists... the choice is always going to be his. Might as well share somehting with your son while you kan... At least he's not doing durgs...

The legendary and great Cuban musician Compay Sugundo started smoking at 7 years of age (according to him) and it didn't seem to cut down on the years of his life. BUT if you are going to introduce your son to cigars (a move I also agree with for all of the above given reasons) probably best to only have him smoke about half of it, and watch his "intake". This is a lesson I learned from introducing my 20 year old to a Cohiba (purchased at a Habanos shop in Habana) he really puffed away, seemed to like it and promptly threw up. To his credit, he came back and my happiest moments are smoking on the deck with him and his older brother. Those father/son moments are truly precious....and fleeting.

quote:

Originally posted by gino 61:
My youngest son who is 16 years old asked me if he could smoke a cigar with me. Normally, I would say NO but he is really interested in all the fascets of cigar smoking. My other son who is 21 is a cigar smoker. I would love to share the moment of his first cigar and I really do not want him to experiment on the street. In the past I have let my children drink some wine with dinner, is this any different?

If your son came to you and asked if he could bang his girlfriend in the room would you like him? How about if he come home and wanted to cook up some crank in the bathtub? Would that be acceptable? Or if he wanted to tested his enterpreurial skills and decided that he wanted to set up a brothel in the garbage? Come on dude, be reasonable and responsible. For one thing, a person contract cancer if he smokes cigars. 2) It's illegal. I'd seriously doubt if you would let him smoke a cigarette, so why would you let him smoke a cigar? It's due to lasps in judements like this that causes legislators to ban smoking in cars and in parks. What's wrong with waiting two years for his 18th birthday?

Would you let him have a night cap of your favorite adult beverage each evening with you?

No? You asked for opinions, and mine is NO way should a 16 year old be allowed to sit with his ole Dad and smoke a cigar or anything else for that matter. When he turns "legal" then he can make his own decison.

Kids grow up fast. What's the rush to let him have a cigar?

My 12 year old son asked to drive the car to the corner store to pick up a six-pack and some blunts. Should I let him?

My son has been looking at naked women on the Internet. Do you think he's too young for a hooker?

You guys are going off the deep end.

quote:

Originally posted by shortsqueeze:
You guys are going off the deep end.

Already in the abyss.

quote:

Originally posted by gino 61:
My youngest son who is 16 years old asked me if he could smoke a cigar with me. Normally, I would say NO but he is really interested in all the fascets of cigar smoking. My other son who is 21 is a cigar smoker. I would love to share the moment of his first cigar and I really do not want him to experiment on the street. In the past I have let my children drink some wine with dinner, is this any different?

Speaking from experience, starting to smoke cigars at a relatively young age kept me from smoking other things, such as marijuana which your son probably has a lot more access to then cigars.

quote:

Originally posted by csmithnj:
My son has been looking at naked women on the Internet. Do you think he's too young for a hooker?

Everybody is to young for a hooker.Well, the hookers I've seen at least . Run!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by jms2788:

quote:

Originally posted by csmithnj:
My son has been looking at naked women on the Internet. Do you think he's too young for a hooker?

Everybody is to young for a hooker.Well, the hookers I've seen at least . Run!!!!

I was figuring a father/son trip out to the Bunny Ranch in Nevada.

quote:

Originally posted by CigarClubAtVT:

quote:

Originally posted by gino 61:
My youngest son who is 16 years old asked me if he could smoke a cigar with me. Normally, I would say NO but he is really interested in all the fascets of cigar smoking. My other son who is 21 is a cigar smoker. I would love to share the moment of his first cigar and I really do not want him to experiment on the street. In the past I have let my children drink some wine with dinner, is this any different?

Speaking from experience, starting to smoke cigars at a relatively young age kept me from smoking other things, such as marijuana which your son probably has a lot more access to then cigars.

Yup. Just give him a JDN to get a good room-spinning buzz.