News and Events

FDA Proposes Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
April 28, 2022

On April 28, 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration proposed two new tobacco product standards with the hopes to significantly reduce disease that comes from the use of combustible tobacco products. Within the next year the FDA plans to issue a ban on menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and ban all flavoring additives in cigars. These proposed standards are based off clear science and evidence showing the addictiveness and harm of these products. This ban builds off the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act passed in 2009 which banned all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco or menthol) in cigarettes. These new proposed standards within the tobacco industry have hopes to significantly reduce youth initiation of smoking but also increasing the chances for current smokers to quit.

Menthol was the only flavor additive that was not banned in 2009 and has continued being a top seller for big tobacco companies throughout the country. Menthol has a minty taste and aroma that not only acts as a flavor additive, but also provides a cooling anesthetic affect that allows first time smokers some relief from the harsh temperatures that come with smoking cigarettes. Besides the flavoring Menthols interaction with nicotine in the brain adds to the addictiveness of tobacco use and increases the likelihood that youth who start using menthol cigarettes will progress to becoming regular users. One study shows with the elimination of menthol could lead to an additional 923,000 smokers to quit in the first 13 to 17 months after the ban goes into effect.      

Menthol was the only flavor additive that was not banned in 2009 and has continued being a top seller for big tobacco companies throughout the country. Menthol has a minty taste and aroma that not only acts as a flavor additive, but also provides a cooling anesthetic affect that allows first time smokers some relief from the harsh temperatures that come with smoking cigarettes. Besides the flavoring Menthols interaction with nicotine in the brain adds to the addictiveness of tobacco use and increases the likelihood that youth who start using menthol cigarettes will progress to becoming regular users. One study shows with the elimination of menthol could lead to an additional 923,000 smokers to quit in the first 13 to 17 months after the ban goes into effect.

Flavored cigars are also being targeted within this ban due to their appeal towards the younger generation. With flavors such as Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, and many more the additional flavors to cigars make smoking less harsh and taste better than they naturally would. More than half a million youth throughout the U.S. used flavor cigars, and recently studies show more young people tried a new cigar everyday rather than cigarettes.

How would this affect Gilchrist counties youth tobacco use issue you may ask? In the 2020 youth tobacco survey Gilchrist County school children reported 1 out 4 have at least tried cigarettes at some point. This number is staggering and if a majority of these children who have tried smoking used menthol products there is an even greater chance these students will become addicted at a young age.

If the ban does take affect this will not be enforced amongst individuals in the community. The ban will be aimed towards manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers, and retailers. With this ban the FDA will work towards making sure unlawful products never make it to the shelves on the market in great hopes this action will achieve a significant public health gain throughout the country.

If you would like to make a public comment about the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes, click here.

If yuu would like to make a public comment on the proposed ban on all characterizing flavors in cigars, click here.