Banning menthol in tobacco will save lives
The tobacco industry has a secret weapon. It has kept the industry reaping billions for decades by attracting new customers, ensuring quick addiction to their products, and giving them a decadeslong subscriber base. That secret weapon is flavoring, and it includes menthol in cigarettes.
Flavors have long been a way to lure youth and young adults to experiment with tobacco products. Addiction to nicotine can occur in just a few weeks, can last decades and is associated with premature death and disease. Nonmenthol flavors in cigarettes were eliminated with the Master Settlement Agreement nearly 25 years ago. The industry has fought hard to keep menthol and, due to industry targeting, it has become the preferred flavor for African American smokers.
The Times Union editorial board recognizes all these reasons in its editorial “No to menthol ban,” March 3, but then says the ban would “criminalize a product popular with Black Americans.” That is not correct. As with other sales restrictions in the state, this legislation would criminalize the sale of menthol cigarettes, not the purchase and not the possession. The onus for following the law is on the seller, not the buyer. This distinction is mentioned in the editorial but ignored.
The editorial board got it partially correct when they agreed that the state should increase the tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack. They are also correct that the state has not provided adequate funding for the Health Department’s Tobacco Control Program. These efforts protect all New Yorkers. Tobacco control has been one of the most successful public health interventions of this century, and that was accomplished by maintaining a high price of tobacco products, enforcing restrictions at the point of sale, and promoting cessation through media and lowcost quit services.
But the editorial misses the boat on the suggestion that the state should not ban menthol cigarettes.
Harlan R. Juster
Hoosick Falls Former director, New York State Tobacco
Control Program
proposal to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products. Dake says ending the sale of flavored tobacco will not prevent youth from using tobacco but “will have the opposite effect.” I would be very interested to hear how he thinks taking flavors off the market will promote youth tobacco use.
Research shows the majority of youth start using tobacco with a flavored product. Hochul is not asking Stewart’s or any tobacco retailer to stop selling tobacco products. She is supporting public health by making a product that kills half of those who use it less appealing and less attractive to youth.
Stewart’s makes it a priority to support kids in our community. They do it through their holiday match program and through their community donations. Hochul’s proposal will have a substantial and lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youth. We need to make tobacco less attractive, available and affordable to youth. Ending the sale of flavored tobacco will prevent nicotine addiction for future generations and will support all the kids in our community.
Judy Rightmyer
Burnt Hills