On April 28, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on menthol flavoring in cigarettes.
According to the FDA, the proposal aims to minimize disease and death related to tobacco use. The organization also hopes to limit youth exposure to tobacco.
The proposed ban will not impact individual consumers who possess or use the product. The FDA said that they “will only address manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers who manufacture, distribute, or sell such products within the U.S. that are not in compliance with applicable requirements.”
The FDA explained that the proposition targets menthol because of its appeal to the youth and young adult population. The Truth Initiative said that menthol “reduces the harshness of cigarette smoke due to its characteristic cooling effects on the mouth and throat.” Many smokers use menthol flavors for this reason.
One group at high-risk for menthol use includes the youth population. The CDC reported that fifty-four percent of youth smokers aged twelve to seventeen use menthol cigarettes. They also reported that many individuals who began to smoke as a young adult first used menthol cigarettes.
Another high-risk group regarding menthol use includes African Americans. The CDC explained that “Non-Hispanic black adults have the highest percentage of menthol cigarette use compared to other racial and ethnic groups.”
The FDA proposal also includes banning flavors, besides tobacco, in cigars.
This proposal faces both opposition and support. One Twitter user said, “It took a constitutional amendment to ban alcohol 100 years ago but now without any amendment to the constitution, the FDA claims it has the ‘authority’ to just ‘ban menthol’ in cigarettes and pretty much anything else it ‘decides to’. We live under a complete tyranny.”
Another Twitter user said, “Great news from #FDA today regarding a proposed ban on menthol tobacco!!! Congrats to the many, many people who helped to make this happen. #banmenthol #tobaccocontrol.”
It still remains to be seen if, and when, the ban on menthol in cigarettes will go into effect.
