Let’s take a closer look at how the Amish handle smoking. Learn interesting details about their habits and discover insights from studies that help us understand more about their approach to tobacco.
Do the Amish Allow Smoking?
The Amish generally avoid smoking due to their belief that it harms the body, seen as a divine gift. Church leaders openly discourage tobacco use.
The Amish lifestyle is focused on simplicity and health, and smoking doesn’t align with their values. While there might be exceptions, it’s not a common practice within the Amish community.
They prefer a wholesome way of life, avoiding habits that could compromise their well-being.
For the thrifty Amish, smoking is considered too expensive and a waste of money that could be better spent on essential needs and community well-being.
However, some Amish men still engage in smoking, whether it’s cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Interestingly, this practice is more prevalent in conservative Amish groups. Studies have found that around 16% of Amish men smoke tobacco.
In the Old Order Amish community, it’s mostly the men who use tobacco.
Amish Youth and Smoking During Rumspringa
During Rumspringa, some Amish youth may try smoking. Rumspringa is a time in Amish youth’s life when they explore the outside world, trying different experiences before deciding to fully commit to the Amish way of life.
However, not all young Amish participate. It’s not a universal experience.
While a few may experiment with smoking during this period, individual choices vary. Most Amish young people still stick to their cultural values, and not everyone engages in habits like smoking during Rumspringa.
Growing Tobacco and Smoking
In some Amish communities, like those in Pennsylvania and Maryland, growing tobacco is common. Here, tobacco is seen as a vital resource, making smoking more accepted due to its role as sustenance.
Tobacco use among the Amish is mostly confined to specific communities and isn’t widespread.
The Amish Stogies
Amish Stogies are special cigars made by the Amish using Pennsylvania Broadleaf tobacco. They can be as big as bananas!
PA Broadleaf tobacco is great for the outside of the cigar (wrapper), but not so much for the inside (filler/binder).
Most of this tobacco goes to other countries, but the Amish keep some for themselves. They dry it out and make their own cigars.
Smoking Patterns in the Amish Community: Insights from Studies
There’s an interesting study by the National Institutes of Health on Amish smoking patterns in Holmes County, Ohio.
Holmes County’s Amish settlement, with about 24,000 members, is the biggest in the US. Overall, around 160,000 Amish people live mostly in rural areas in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the Midwest.
The study found that only 17.6% of Amish men used tobacco, a significantly lower rate compared to non-Amish individuals in the same counties (38.8%) and white men across the United States (32.2%).
Another study carried out in 2014 (Familial Aggregation of Tobacco Use Behaviors Among Amish Men) found that 16% of Amish men used tobacco, mainly cigars. The results highlight family influence on tobacco use among Amish men.
Sons of smoking fathers had higher tobacco use rates than those whose fathers didn’t smoke (46% vs. 22%).
Similar patterns were seen among brothers of those who smoked compared to those who didn’t (61% vs. 29%).
Long Story Short
- The Amish generally avoid smoking for health and spiritual reasons, supported by church leaders.
- While some Amish men smoke, it’s more common in specific communities, primarily among men.
- During Rumspringa, some Amish youth may try smoking.
- Studies reveal lower tobacco use among Amish men than non-Amish. Family dynamics influence smoking, with sons and brothers of smokers more likely to use tobacco.