UK Smokers React to Menthol Ban
UK smokers are reacting to the menthol cigarette ban introduced under the EU Tobacco Products Directive, which does not apply to vaping products or heated tobacco.
The revised Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) of the EU prohibits the production and sale of menthol cigarettes. Despite Brexit, this ban also applies to the UK, including menthol capsules, and does not include vaping and heated tobacco products. The measure came into effect on May 20, and anyone found selling products across the EU will face fines of up to €1,000.<\/span><\/div>
“No one may produce or supply cigarettes or hand-rolled tobacco with filters, paper, packaging, capsules, or other flavoring agents; filters, paper, or capsules containing tobacco or nicotine; or a technical feature that allows consumers to change the product's flavor, taste, or smoke intensity,” explained Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
The menthol flavor makes inhaling smoke smoother.<\/span><\/div>
The purpose of this measure is to protect young people from smoking, as it is well known that the compounds that give menthol its flavor have a cooling effect, making the inhalation of smoke smoother and easier, thus making it even easier for young people to start smoking. But will this measure really achieve the intended results? Medron has asked some young people who usually smoke menthol how they plan to cope with this ban.<\/span><\/div>
<\/div>
This ban won’t stop me from smoking; it will just make me smoke less or have to work harder to get addicted to cigarettes. I don’t particularly understand how menthol makes smoking look appealing to young people, and I can say for sure that if you’re going to ban one type of cigarette, you should ban smoking altogether (though they probably will never do that),” said 26-year-old Jess.<\/span><\/div>
