Some of the more prominent cigar YouTube channels have lost their ability to generate ad revenue through YouTube’s own ad service, a process known as demonetization.

YouTube has unveiled an updated policy regarding types of content that it will not display ads on, which now includes tobacco-related content. Demonetization is a process where YouTube removes its hosted ads on content, either specific videos or whole channels.

Some of the most popular YouTubers, not cigar-related, have been demonetized for various reasons, largely due to controversial videos or comments regarding race, religion or politics. Large corporations have removed their ads from YouTube entirely after finding their ads running on these types of videos. In response, the Alphabet-owned YouTube has become increasingly aggressive when it comes to what types of videos cannot have ads automatically hosted on them.

YouTube’s policy regarding what videos can be demonetized includes those types of controversial videos, but now also includes videos that promotion of tobacco products—including e-cigarettes—and firearms.

Yesterday, Bryan Glynn of Cigar Obsession, the most prominent cigar YouTube channel, announced he had been demonetized.

A week ago, Glynn’s videos were marked as “limited” in terms of their ability to display ads. This wasn’t entirely, he said that from time to time Cigar Obsession videos would be flagged, he would appeal and then they would be unflagged.

This time was different, YouTube confirmed that it was not an error and that it was part of a policy change.

“The system not only is scanning back libraries and applied this to the vast majority of my existing videos including the #1 on YouTube ‘How To Smoke A Cigar’ last month, but videos are automatically flagged on upload even before they are made public. There’s now no chance for any direct income from new content.”

Screenshot via Cigars Daily.

The change doesn’t mean an end to all revenue based on cigar-related YouTube videos but it does mean an end to revenue from YouTube. These channels could make money by directly selling sponsorships or by using Patreon or other premium content platforms. However, for viral videos like the How To Smoke a Cigar one referenced by Glynn, the ability to continue to generate new revenue from popular content that was published years ago is likely entirely gone.

While the ban on advertising for cigar-related content is an official, sitewide policy; YouTube’s enforcement is not. Glynn said he knew of two other channels losing their ability to host ads, but so far only Should I Smoke This has also publicly acknowledged getting demonetized.

Cigars Daily, another popular cigar YouTuber, tells halfwheel its videos have been demonetized within the last 48 hours.

Patrick Lagreid contributed to this story.

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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.