F.D.A. Plans to Seek a Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

[left-of-center2012]

In a landmark move bound to further shake the tobacco industry, the Food and Drug Administration plans to propose a ban on menthol cigarettes next week as part of its aggressive campaign against flavored e-cigarettes and some tobacco products, agency officials said.

The proposal would have to go through the F.D.A. regulatory maze, and it could be several years before such a restriction took effect, especially if the major tobacco companies contest the agency’s authority to do so. None of the major tobacco companies would comment on the possibility of barring menthol cigarettes at this early stage.

Canada has already imposed a ban on menthol cigarettes, and the European Union’s ban is set to go into effect in 2020. Earlier this year, San Francisco passed a prohibition against the sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes.

The menthol proposal is just one of several initiatives the F.D.A. plans to announce sometime next week, including a ban on sales of most flavored e-cigarettes, except menthol and mint, at retail stores and gas stations across the country. The products, which include such flavors as chicken-and-waffles and mango, would be mainly relegated to sales online, at sites where the agency hopes to impose strict age verification to ensure that minors could not buy them.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/health/fda-menthol-cigarettes-ban.html

[CurtEastPoint]

1. so much for small government

[greymattermom]

2. So what prevents folks from adding flavor to ecigs?

Just like we do with coffee?

[Jersey Devil]

4. They already do

Ecig companies already sell "flavor shots" to add to e juice for those who want more flavor in their vapes. I vape, helped me completely quit 50 years of smoking for 4 years now. My lungs are clear according to my doctor, I no longer cough or wheeze and I feel great. I thinks this is a bit ridiculous.

[KCDebbie]

3. Wait! Banning menthol cigarettes?

Why ban only menthol cigarettes?

[marylandblue]

6. It looks like they are try to ban all flavors

But changing menthol rules is more complicated because they don't make chicken and waffle regular cigarettes.

[KCDebbie]

18. Are you lost? Did you accidentally join the wrong forum?

[marylandblue]

20. Not lost, just an old guy who is fighting that "in the good old days we smoked tobacco" feeling

[Codeine]

19. Because that's the only remaining "flavor"

for regular cigarettes. When they banned other flavors a while back menthol managed to stick around based on popularity, but it’s time to get rid of it as well.

[Amira]

5. There is a racial twist to this

The single largest demographic of menthol smokers are African-Americans. It has deep roots in the community. Not sure why, but it is a heavy favorite.

With vaping its young people with candy flavors, but menthol is a clear favorite in my community.

[marylandblue]

7. Why is FDA trying to ban flavors anyway?

Do the flavors make it more hazardous?

[left-of-center2012]

9. "Do the flavors make it more hazardous?"

I think more appealing.
Here are a few I found on Google:

Gummi Bear,
Banana Nut Bread,
Cotton Candy,
Peach Green Tea,
Pink Spot (hints of lime, raspberry, and pineapple),
Watermelon Wave,
Black Mamba (highlighted by blackberry, cranberry and hints of citrus),
Frozen Lime Drop,
Rip Tide (a hint of cool menthol, with raspberry and strawberry)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. The reason is because menthols were heavily marketed to the black community.

[Amira]

21. I sort of think that is chicken and egg kind of thing

Not sure what came first. However, today, clearly most African-Americans smokers prefer menthols.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. "Cool" menthol cigarettes were pegged to jazz culture, which was dominated by black people.

[lunasun]

8. When I did smoke, the only cigs I ever wanted was menthol . If I ran out and somebody

offered a non menthol yuck. There are probably many smokers still like that and would not cross over if no menthol or cut use down significantly just enough for nicotine fix .
I predict tobacco companies know this and will fight hard
I do not understand how laws can prohibit one kind but not another, yet looks like it's already being done places

[left-of-center2012]

10. I too only smoked menthol

I quit around 1992 when the price went up to $2 in Maine for the generic smokes.

I was smoking two packs a day,
so I was spending $120 a month on cigarettes.

[Eliot Rosewater]

12. Menthols way worse for emphysema, if you smoke menthols, go watch someone with

emphysema trying to breathe.

Please.

[left-of-center2012]

13. emphysema

My dad and mother-in-law died from smoking related emphysema.

One of my brothers died from lung cancer. His wife of 50 years was a chain smoker.

[Eliot Rosewater]

14. I have a touch of it, I suppose.

I smoked Marlboro red , two packs a day for many years, wont say how many.

Right now if I try and smoke one or a joint i cant breathe, so I dont.

But I think I stopped in time, had those been menthols all that time I would be dead.

[left-of-center2012]

15. My doc says I'm OK

I smoked two packs a day for about 24 years;
quit 26 years ago.

Lung x-rays are clear.

[Eliot Rosewater]

16. Great, my problem is my heart. And now cataracts. Shit, getting old.

[left-of-center2012]

17. I'm 72

Went to the E.R. three times this summer due to my heart.
I'm now on Xarelto.

I have cataracts and Glaucoma; diabetes.

My biggest problem now is 'mobility'.
I can only walk short distances without having to stop to rest before continuing.

I see a motorized wheelchair in my future.

[UniteFightBack]

22. I can deal with them not selling ecigs at gas stations or whatever...yet they'll still offer cig's

for sale at the same gas station?

Anyway I just don't want them to ban the flavored ecigs - it helped me stop smoking cig's and I'm lowering my nicotine levels gradually.

[fescuerescue]

24. Maybe they should ban the Tobacco and leave the flavor