Slowly but surely, cigarette smoking in the United States is waning. In 1997, 36.4% of Americans smoked. By 2013, the rate fell to 17.8%. Warned by ardent health teachers, turned off by rising sin taxes, and disgusted by unethical marketing tactics, Americans of all ages are choosing to live a tobacco-free lifestyle.
The trend has not escaped the notice of Big Tobacco, which has realized the need to take its addictive products to new, emerging markets. High on Tobacco companies' priority lists are Islamic countries. But in the Middle East and other bastions of Islam, smoking is a tough sell.
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