Menthol cigarette use on the rise among young people

Teen smokers are increasingly choosing menthol cigarettes over ordinary brands - and 80 per cent of black adolescent smokers buy minty versions.

Brands like Lorillard's Newport account for nearly one-third of America's $83billion annual cigarette sales, and more and more of those come from minority youth smokers.

A draft report by the Food and Drug Administration in Washington found more than half of Hispanic teenage smokers use menthols, and there is a 'significant increase' in white youths smoking them, too.

The draft chapter, released today, is a blow to cigarette manufacturers who are fighting FDA proposals to ban or limit the sale and manufacture of menthol cigarettes.

Anti-smoking campaigners argue they are dangerous because the mint flavouring hides the harsh taste of tobacco, making them more appealing to young smokers.

But cigarette manufacturers including Lorillard, which makes the popular Newport brand, say they are no more addictive than ordinary cigarettes.

Last year Bill True, Lorillard's senior vice president of research and development, told MSN: 'We don't think there is any evidence or even any suggestion that youth would choose not to smoke if menthol products weren't available.

'Kids don't smoke because there are menthol cigarettes. Kids smoke for a variety of reasons which are probably quite complex.'

In previously released chapters, advisers said there was a lack of proof to show menthol cigarettes are more harmful - but they said the flavouring might make them more addictive.

According to the draft report, 'menthol cigarette use is very high among minority youth.'

But it also said increased menthol sales are in part driven by a 'significant increase in the number of white youth ages 12 to 17 who are smoking menthol cigarettes.'

Last year Ellen Vargyas, general counsel for the American Legacy Foundation, a smoking prevention group in Washington, told MSN: 'The manufacturers would have you believe there is not a scintilla of evidence that menthol is no more dangerous than other cigarettes to the individual smoker, but we do not agree.

'Over 80 per cent of African-American smokers smoke menthol, and African-American smokers have the highest rates of lung cancer. We also know African-Americans with lung cancer are more likely to die from lung cancer.'

Lorillard, along with R.J Reynolds - which makes 'Kool' cigarettes and Camel menthols - filed a lawsuit last month to try to stop the FDA using the report in its consideration, alleging there were 'conflicts of interest and bias among members of the FDA advisory panel.

It alleges three of its members have received funding for research or consultation work from companies which make products to help smokers give up.

After the draft report was released, on the New York Stock Exchange Lorillard's shares fell 0.5 per cent to $78.86 and Reynolds's fell 0.3 per cent to $33.

When the FDA was granted regulatory power over tobacco products in 2009, it specifically banned adding flavours like chocolate, fruit, vanilla, cocoa and cinnamon to cigarettes as lawmakers said they enticed children to start smoking.

The same ban was not extended to menthol cigarettes, but the law required the FDA to set up a panel of advisory experts to help them make a decision.

The finished report is scheduled to go before the FDA by March 23.

source: www.dailymail.co.uk