Danger from ‘menthol abuse’
SMOKERS hit by the European menthol cigarette ban are turning to potentially dangerous homemade alternatives, a poll has found.
Nearly one in eight of those craving the flavoured variety have attempted to make their own version to get around the legislation which came into effect on May 20.
Desperate smokers have created YouTube videos and online forums to share tips on how to create homemade menthol cigarettes.
Others have turned to using menthol-flavoured vaping liquids on cigarettes, despite it being intended for electronic cigarettes.
Warning
Owner ofWharfedale Premier convenience store in Hull, Samantha Coldbeck, said some customers had told her they would sprinkle their cigarettes with menthol flavoured e-liquids prior to smoking them.
She said: “I have been really shocked and concerned to hear that.
“I am warning customers of the dangers of homemade alterations, as vape liquids are not intended to be burned or inhaled.
“It demonstrates how dangerous it can be to ban a product that is in high demand as people will just try to find loopholes, and potentially, really damaging ones.”
The poll, commissioned by Marlboro manufacturer Philip Morris, found 14 per cent of the 308 adults surveyed continued to buy menthol cigarettes on sale illegally from local retailers while 11 per cent opted to quit smoking altogether.
And 31 per cent of the smokers said they had switched to or increased consumption of non-menthol cigs.
While 20 per cent said they had switched to or boosted their use of either menthol or non-menthol electronic cigarettes.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “It’s just laughable for Philip Morris International to suggest that smokers are likely to make their cigarettes more dangerous by adding menthol.
“Cigarette smoke is hot, toxic and carcinogenic, sticking to the inside of smokers, lungs and blood vessels and causing carnage throughout.”
The menthol ban formed part of an effort to prevent young people from smoking and to reduce the number of people taking up the habit.