Menthol cigarettes may soon join the flavored cigarette ban

According to a press release on March 19, 2011, by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the Food and Drug Administration's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee concluded earlier that day that "Removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States."

FDA Control Over Tobacco Products

In 2009, Congress passed a law granting the Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco products and tobacco product safety.  Shortly after that, the FDA banned the sale of flavored cigarettes, including the popular clove cigarettes.  Now, it seems that menthol cigarettes may soon join the September 21st, 2009 ban.  For more information on the previous ban, read Flavored cigarette ban goes into effect, first of several tobacco restrictions.

Menthol Cigarettes Target Youth and African Americans

According to the new research released by the FDA's Tobacco Products Safety Committee, menthol cigarettes increases the rate of experimentation with tobacco in children and youth, as well as reducing smoking cessation and increasing the overall prevalence of tobacco use among African Americans.  This is largely due, the research claims, to the associated advertising.  It found that "menthol cigarettes are marketed disproportionately to younger smokers" and "disproportionately marketed per capita to African Americans."

Popularity of Menthol Cigarettes

Although it may be easy to claim that menthol cigarettes are somehow worse than regular tobacco cigarettes, they are nearly as popular overall, among many demographics.  Similarly, although they may be more popular among the youth and African American demographics, no actual additional health risk was cited in the released material.  It sounded more to be a matter of advertising than health considerations.  Either way, attempting ban menthol cigarettes would, without a doubt, be sure to create an outrage among a very large number of people.