# Costa Rican cigar warning: real or gag? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273 "2015-06-11T18:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/1 "2015-06-11T18:12:26Z")
A buddy of mine just got back from Costa Rica. I ran into him last night and he handed me a cigar. I just remembered I had it and went to light it up, and it has a warning [telling me that smoking it may make me impotent](http://s681.photobucket.com/user/kayaker01/media/costaricancigar_zpsjwijp3cq.jpg.html). Is it a gag, or is that what the Costa Rican government requires? My buddy is a joker, the cigar isn’t that great, and I’m suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/2 "2015-06-11T18:15:08Z")
No answer for you on the actual question, but the impotence icon on the warning label is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/3 "2015-06-11T18:21:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Is it a gag, or is that what the Costa Rican government requires? It seems that [a new Costa Rican law](http://news.co.cr/business-impact-anti-tobacco-law-costa-rica/35350/) on control of traffic in tobacco does require warnings about its effect on impotence. The link doesn’t show the actual warning notice, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s real. > [@](#): > > Amidst a growing smuggling trade in cigarettes, the Law 9028 on Tobacco Control and Its Harmful Effects on Health has also impacted the once-thriving tobacco industry in Costa Rica. According to a recent press release by market research firm Euromonitor International, tobacco industry executives in Costa Rica has responded with pricing and marketing strategies within a restrictive environment. > > The report by Euromonitor arrives in the wake of a rule imposing on cigarette manufacturers to display garish images of some of the most harmful and fearsome health effects caused by smoking. These include: > > Heart disease > Male impotence > Emphysema > Abortion > Mouth and tongue cancer > Premature death ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/4 "2015-06-11T18:23:16Z")
There are certainly a number of respected organisations who say so. Well - Not impotence, but ED (Erectile Dysfunction). > [@](#): > > There are some things that can make erectile dysfunction more likely. These are very similar to the risks of cardiovascular disease and include: > lack of exercise or physical activity > obesity > smoking > high cholesterol > Erectile dysfunction itself can also be a sign of cardiovascular disease. > > [Erectile dysfunction (impotence) - NHS](http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Erectile-dysfunction/Pages/Causes.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/5 "2015-06-11T18:25:33Z")
It would appear it’s real, see [set 6](http://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/costa-rica/pl-content). Front Side: Smoking Kills (Image: corpse with toe tag) Back Side: Smoking Causes Sexual Impotence (Image: male/female symbols with bent male symbol). Lateral side: In Costa Rica it is estimated that at least 10 deaths occur daily that are associated with consumption of tobacco. On the bright side, at least they’re not requiring the cigar now be shaped like the icon. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/6 "2015-06-11T19:04:40Z")
Hah! I thought my buddy bought it as a gag. He is a funny guy; a retired hockey official (college and NHL). I smoke maybe one cigar a month, usually an $8 to $15 stick. So far, no erectile difficulties. Take my word for it, don’t make me pull out a cite.😛 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/7 "2015-06-11T19:06:23Z")
The case can double as a splint. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/8 "2015-06-11T19:12:19Z")
Here in Canada we have a variety of warnings on our tobacco products, and one of them is a similar (complete with broke-dick visual) warning. [Half way down the page.](http://www.globalnerdy.com/2008/06/23/where-did-all-the-cigarettes-go-joeys-unofficial-rubyfringe-guide-to-toronto/) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/9 "2015-06-11T19:26:09Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Here in Canada we have a variety of warnings on our tobacco products, and one of them is a similar (complete with broke-dick visual) warning. [Half way down the page.](http://www.globalnerdy.com/2008/06/23/where-did-all-the-cigarettes-go-joeys-unofficial-rubyfringe-guide-to-toronto/) Wow. Oh well, my Costa Rican Tabacos Exclusivos is done. I’ll have my gf check for problems later, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/10 "2015-06-11T19:42:12Z")
There’s always a solution, the Viagra Starter Kit: Two Popsicle sticks and a rubber band. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/11 "2015-06-12T00:18:50Z")
> **[Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction: Quitting Helps](https://time.com/4408977/erectile-dysfunction-quit-smoking/)** > > Forget Viagra. Research suggests that for firmer, faster erections, men should quit smoking. Scientists have found that men who successfully kick cigarettes can have thicker,... Where is the dancing banana gif when you need it? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/12 "2015-06-12T02:57:23Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > There are certainly a number of respected organisations who say so. Well - Not impotence, but ED (Erectile Dysfunction). That’s called _impotencia_ or _impotencia sexual_ in Spanish - what the picture says. Not even doctors are likely to call it _disfunción eréctil_ unless there’s a camera recording it, and I believe this second version to be a relative neologism. I’ve seen warnings about tobacco causing ED in several countries, but I can’t remember any of them with pics. The Spanish warnings started carrying pics several years ago - I remember a smoker coworker complaining that “those with the pictures of the blackened lungs are revolting!” Yes, yes, that’s exactly the idea. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/13 "2015-06-12T17:03:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction: Quitting Helps | TIME](http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/15/guys-quitting-smoking-makes-it-bigger-really/) > > Where is the dancing banana gif when you need it? Right [here](http://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-dance-excited-IB9foBA4PVkKA). Alas, can’t paste it right in (thanks SDMB). ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/14 "2015-06-12T21:35:40Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > The case can double as a splint. I think Clinton proved the cigar can as well. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/15 "2015-06-12T21:39:40Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Hah! I thought my buddy bought it as a gag. > > He is a funny guy; a retired hockey official (college and NHL). I smoke maybe one cigar a month, usually an $8 to $15 stick. So far, no erectile difficulties. Take my word for it, don’t make me pull out a cite.😛 Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/16 "2015-06-13T05:06:42Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Double corona. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-rican-cigar-warning-real-or-gag/722273/17 "2015-06-13T09:17:15Z")
_“And a woman is only a woman, but a good Cigar is a Smoke”_ Rudyard Kipling