The New York Times reports this morning that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of flavored cigarettes, a move that the paper says is “intended to end the sale of tobacco products with chocolate, vanilla, clove and other flavorings that lure children and teenagers into smoking. The agency will study regulating menthol products and hinted that it might soon take action against the far larger market of flavored small cigars and cigarillos.” However, there remains some confusion about what items fall into what categories, and further clarifications from the FDA seem likely.
The ban takes place under new legislation that gives the FDA the ability to regulate the tobacco industry.
The ban takes place under new legislation that gives the FDA the ability to regulate the tobacco industry.
- KC's View:
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When this story broke yesterday, somebody sent me a link with a note saying:
I hope you're happy KC. This is what you wanted! This is the new (expletive deleted) Prohibition.
Which amazes me. This isn’t Prohibition. This is trying to save the lives of the some 3,600 children and teenagers who start smoking every day, more than a thousand of whom then become daily smokers.
But you’re right. I am happy. Because of we can save some of these lives, it’s been a good day.
And it amazes me that anyone other than a tobacco company executive might feel differently.
