# Tobacconist > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tobacconist > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tobacconist.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacconist > Source revision: 1354290371 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Retailer of tobacco and other products}} {{Other uses|The Tobacconist (disambiguation){{!}}The Tobacconist}} [[File:Wien X, Favoritenstraße 113, Tabak Trafik, 2024-07-29 JM 5D413140.jpg|thumb|A ''Tabak-Trafik'' tobacconist's shop in [Vienna](/source/Vienna), Austria (photograph taken in 2024). The depicted tobacconist shop was modernised in 2025.]] thumb|A tobacconist in Stockholm, Sweden {{Tobacco}} A '''tobacconist''', also called a '''tobacco shop''', a '''tobacconist's shop''' or a '''smoke shop''', is a [retail](/source/retail) [business](/source/business) that sells [tobacco](/source/tobacco) products in various forms and the related accoutrements, such as [pipes](/source/smoking_pipe_(tobacco)), [lighters](/source/lighters), [match](/source/match)es, [pipe cleaner](/source/pipe_cleaner)s, and [pipe tampers](/source/Pipe_tool). More specialized retailers might sell [ashtray](/source/ashtray)s, [humidification devices](/source/humidifier), [hygrometer](/source/hygrometer)s, [humidor](/source/humidor)s, [cigar cutter](/source/cigar_cutter)s, and more. Books and magazines, especially ones related to tobacco are commonly offered. Items irrelevant to tobacco such as puzzles, games, party supplies, figurines, [hip flask](/source/hip_flask)s, [walking stick](/source/walking_stick)s, and confectionery are sometimes sold. In the United States, a tobacconist shop was traditionally represented by a [wooden Indian](/source/Cigar_store_Indian) positioned nearby. Most retailers of tobacco sell other types of product; today [supermarket](/source/supermarket)s, in many countries with a special counter, are usually the main sellers of the common brands of [cigarette](/source/cigarette). In the United Kingdom, a common combination in small corner shops has been a [newsagent](/source/newsagent) selling newspapers and magazines, as well as [confectionery](/source/confectionery) and tobacco. In UK marketing and retailing this sector is referred to as "CONTOB" ("confectionery and tobacco").[http://196.43.179.6:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/392/Dictionary_of_marketing.pdf?sequence=1 Yadin, Daniel, ''The International Dictionary of Marketing''], p.58, 2002, Kogan Page, {{ISBN|0749435321}} (not entirely accurate; the hyphen is not usual) A '''tabac''' or '''tabaccheria''' is a shop licensed to sell tobacco products in [France](/source/France), [Spain](/source/Spain) and [Italy](/source/Italy). Tabacs also sell [newspaper](/source/newspaper)s, [telephone card](/source/telephone_card)s, [postage stamp](/source/postage_stamp)s and multi-journey bus tickets.{{cite news |title=Why the tabac is essential to life in France – even if you don't smoke |url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20200729/why-the-tabac-is-essential-to-life-in-france-even-if-you-dont-smoke/ |newspaper=The Local France |date=15 April 2022 |access-date=16 September 2022}} ==Services and stock== Specialist tobacconists are in theory educated and practiced in all things related to tobacco including its different forms, colors, scents, textures and tastes. They employ this knowledge to provide information regarding customers about the tobacco products. Due to the decline in the tobacco industry in recent decades and widespread use of mass-produced tobacco products, tobacconists have become scarce, though many smokers still prefer to buy their products from a tobacco shop with a tobacconist behind the counter.{{cite web|title=Tobacconist: Inside Job|url=http://www.insidejobs.com/jobs/tobacconist|publisher=Inside Jobs|access-date=10 February 2013}} Standard tobacco shops in the United States generally specialize in cigarettes, [roll-your-own supplies](/source/Roll-your-own_cigarette), [smokeless tobacco](/source/smokeless_tobacco) such as [nasal snuff](/source/Snuff_(tobacco)), [dipping tobacco](/source/dipping_tobacco) and [chewing tobacco](/source/chewing_tobacco), as well as [cigar](/source/cigar)s, and [pipe tobacco](/source/pipe_smoking). More recently, these smoke shops may also carry [vaping supplies](/source/electronic_cigarette), and some may also double as [head shop](/source/head_shop)s. More upscale tobacco shops tend to have a much larger emphasis on cigars and pipe tobacco. Many of these establishments will have a walk-in humidor, as well as a smoking lounge or even a bar. These stores, often categorizing themselves specifically as a '''cigar store''' generally have limited amounts of the other commonplace forms of tobacco. There are now smaller online tobacconists calling themselves Boutique Online Stores these stores are 24 hour operated stores, these stores are more specialized with emphasis on service and knowledge. ==Regulations== In countries where [tobacco control](/source/tobacco_control) laws are strong, tobacconists may have their trade limited. In the United States, it is common for [retail pharmacies](/source/Community_pharmacy) to sell cigarettes and similar products on the same premises as [over-the-counter drug](/source/over-the-counter_drug)s and [prescription medication](/source/prescription_drug). Campaigners in the USA advocate the [removal of tobacco from pharmacies](/source/Tobacco-Free_Pharmacies) due to the [health risks associated with smoking](/source/Health_effects_of_tobacco) and the apparent contradiction of selling cigarettes alongside [smoking cessation](/source/smoking_cessation) products and [asthma medication](/source/asthma_medication). Pharmaceutical retailers counter this argument by reasoning that by selling tobacco, they are more readily able to offer to customers advice and products for quitting smoking.{{cite web|title=Tobacco-Free Pharmacies|url=http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=615|work=Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights|access-date=18 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522033905/http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=615|archive-date=22 May 2010}} Some tobacco shop owners in the US are concerned about the 2016 [Food and Drug Administration](/source/Food_and_Drug_Administration) (FDA) regulations for [electronic cigarette](/source/electronic_cigarette)s.{{cite news|url=http://www.mystateline.com/news/new-e-cig-regulations-could-close-shops|title=New E-Cig Regulations Could Close Shops|author=Emily Fannon|publisher=MyStateline.com|agency=[Nexstar Broadcasting Group](/source/Nexstar_Media_Group)|date=10 May 2016}} The 2010 FDA regulations caused some inconveniences for local tobacco shops in Cullman, Alabama, US.{{cite news|url=http://www.cullmantimes.com/community/new-fda-regulations-affecting-tobacco-shops/article_a6f9cfc7-23fd-508d-aab1-c5adbd2db65e.html|title=New FDA regulations affecting tobacco shops|author=Trent Moore|work=[The Cullman Times](/source/The_Cullman_Times)|agency=[Nexstar Broadcasting Group](/source/Nexstar_Media_Group)|date=9 July 2010}} The US [Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act](/source/Family_Smoking_Prevention_and_Tobacco_Control_Act), has restricted marketing, particularly to minors; prohibited flavored cigarettes (excluding menthol); removed descriptions including "light", "mild", and "low-tar" from cigarette packs; and made larger the dimensions of warning labels on smokeless tobacco. Anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed entry to any US self-service tobacco shop, even if going with an adult.{{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/selling-tobacco-products-retail-stores|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611175201/https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/selling-tobacco-products-retail-stores|archive-date=2019-06-11 |title=Selling Tobacco Products in Retail Stores |publisher=Food and Drug Administration |access-date=22 August 2025}} ==Gallery== File:Tobacconist's sign, England, 1750-1900 Wellcome L0058305.jpg|[Cigar store Indian](/source/Cigar_store_Indian) made {{circa|1750}} and used to [advertise a tobacconist's shop](/source/History_of_nicotine_marketing) in England until 1900 File:Tobacco advertising figure, National Museum of Scotland.JPG|18th-century advertising figure for a British tobacconist Image:Almanach Chronique de Jersey 1892 Hodgetts tabac.jpg|An advertisement for a tobacconist from the [almanac](/source/almanac) of ''La Chronique de Jersey'', 1892 File:Cigarindian1.jpg|Modern tobacconist in [Windsor, UK](/source/Windsor%2C_Berkshire) File:Jianshui - old city - P1370481.JPG|A vendor of tobacco and traditional [Yunnan](/source/Yunnan) [smoking pipes](/source/Tobacco_pipe) in [Jianshui](/source/Jianshui_County), Yunnan, China File:Tobaksaffär.jpg|Tobacco shop in Varberg, Sweden Sturks Tobacco Shop.jpg| [Sturk's Tobacconists](/source/Sturk's_Tobacconists) in Cape Town, South Africa Trafik am Schwedenplatz - panoramio.jpg|Modern-day tobacco shop sign ''(Tabaktrafik)'' in [Vienna](/source/Vienna), [Austria](/source/Austria). Cigar Store Figures.jpg|19th century cigar store figures from [Mercer Museum](/source/Mercer_Museum) in [Doylestown, Pennsylvania](/source/Doylestown%2C_Pennsylvania) 20200517 192325 Commerce de tabac à Neuchâtel (Suisse).jpg| Tobacco shop in [Neuchâtel](/source/Neuch%C3%A2tel), [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) in 2020: advertisement is authorized inside the shop ==See also== *[Cigar](/source/Cigar) *[Cigarette](/source/Cigarette) *[Humidor](/source/Humidor) *[Tobacco pouch](/source/Tobacco_pouch) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Retail}} {{Authority control}} Category:Sales occupations Category:Tobacconists Category:Retailers by type of merchandise sold --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tobacconist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacconist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacconist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.