US Researchers: Menthol Cigarette Ban May Boost Black Market Sales
According to the Heartland Institute, a U.S. ban on menthol cigarettes may do little to reduce youth tobacco use, while potentially driving more adult consumers toward black market sales.
According to information from the U.S.-based Heartland Institute, on January 27, 2020, Lindsey Stroud, manager of government relations research at the free-market think tank, said that government measures banning menthol cigarette products may do little to reduce tobacco consumption and use among young people, while also eliminating choices for adult consumers.
U.S. researchers say banning menthol cigarettes could lead to increased black-market sales
If the government implements a ban on menthol cigarettes, it could reduce revenue by more than $130 billion over the next 10 years and lead to illegal growth in black-market sales of such products.
The think tank’s research shows that as many as 25% of menthol cigarette consumers said they would find ways to buy menthol cigarettes through illegal channels.
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