RUSSIA YUPPIES CHOOSE THE CIGAR

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MOSCOW, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - The number of Russian cigar-smokers is skyrocketing. Ever more affluent young men take to what quite recently was exotic to make it part of their everyday habits, remarks the Novye Izvestia, widely read Moscow-based daily.

The young and dynamic see the cigar as symbol of social success, say market analysts.

"The cigar was always regarded as rich elderly gentlemen's pleasure. They made the bulk of posh tobacconists' clientele. Things are changing apace now, especially in Russia. Here, men of the educated middle class are primary consumers. They are after every little pleasure this life has to offer. Young men are eager to acquire the highest smoking culture, and become experts on posh drink, cigars, cars, food, and clothes from top-notch houses. I think cigar sales will grow five-fold in Russia within a few years," says Willy Alvero, general representative for Russia of the Habanos S.A., official Cuban cigar exporter.

Almost all leading cigar manufacturers have appeared in the Russian market by now-Dominican, Honduran, Mexican, Nicaraguan, US and Brazilian. The Havana, however, never loses the palm.

A 25 cigar box of the Cohiba Robusto, the world's most popular brand, goes at $300 to 350, while cigars put out in a limited number or collection items of many years' seasoning cost at least a thousand dollars a box.

Moscow has roughly fifty shops that offer cigars. Regrettably, none has sufficiently trained staff or boasts proper services, warns Senor Alvero, who is deservedly known as Russia's head expert on Cuban cigars.

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