Lebanese cigar lovers hold to hobby despite economic crisis

STORY: Lebanese cigar lovers hold to hobby despite economic crisis DATELINE: July 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:05:33 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a man shopping at a cigar shop 2. various of cigars 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JOSEPH EL KHOURY, Owner of Peter Cigar 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ALI SHMAISANI, Cigar smoker 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): JOSEPH EL KHOURY, Owner of Peter Cigar 6. various of Peter Cigar STORYLINE: Despite suffering the worst financial crisis in its history, Lebanon remains a big spender on cigars. A study released on May 31 by data analysis site Statista revealed that Lebanon ranked number one globally on per capita revenue from cigar sales in 2022. According to the study, Lebanese spends 36.7 U.S. dollars per person on cigars, compared to 35.6 dollars in the second-placed United States, 27.5 dollars in Qatar, 20.2 dollars in Luxembourg, and 15.1 dollars in Iceland. The result surprised many as cigars, often considered luxury products, have retained a strong mark