FDA Bans Flavored Cigarette Sales to Minors

The Law that Makes it Illegal to Sell Flavored Tobacco to Children

Oct 3, 2009

They taste good, come in different flavors, and children think they're safe. But that's not what FDA health experts say about fruit, clove and candy flavored cigarettes.

On September 22, 2009 the Federal Drug Agency (FDA) of the United States passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a law that makes it illegal to sell cigarettes that contain flavorings to minors. Health experts believe children who start to smoke become addicted to tobacco products. The statute is aimed to reduce the incidence of tobacco addiction and its attendant adverse health effects. Smoking tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in Western countries. And while the sales of menthol and natural flavored tobacco products is still legal, the FDA is examining "tighter" regulations concerning the sale of both goods.

What the Legislators are Saying

"Almost 90% of adult smokers started smoking as teenagers. These flavored cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular smokers. The FDA will utilize regulatory authority to reduce the burden of illness and death caused by tobacco products to enhance our nation's public health," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg.

Studies have shown that young smokers choose these goods because they "taste better" and are perceived "safe." The cigarettes, called "bidis," are hand-rolled cigarettes. They come in many flavors: grape, orange, banana, strawberry,pineapple, cherry,cola, chocolate,clove, cinnamon, coconut, and licorice. They require deeper and more frequent "pulls" or inhalation by the smoker. By comparison, older smokers prefer natural and menthol flavored cigarettes and cigars.

"Flavored cigarettes attract and allure kids into lifetime addiction. FDA's ban on these cigarettes will break that cycle for the more than 3,600 young people who start smoking daily," said Dr. Howard Koh, US Dept. of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary of Health.

The FDA also issued a parent's advisory on the risks associated with the use of flavored tobacco products."Youth are twice as likely to repeat seeing advertising for these flavored products as adults are. Marketing campaigns of products with sweet candy and fruit flavors can mislead young people into thinking these products are less addictive and less harmful," said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a pediatrician and FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner."

The FDA encourages the public to report continuing sales of flavored cigarettes to: 1-877-CTP-1373 or to check the FDA Website Re: Tobacco Products. To enforce the law, the FDA has issued information regarding the Act to tobacco companies. In it, the FDA states that "any company who continues to make, ship, or sell such products may be subject to FDA enforcement action."

Like natural and menthol cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco, flavored cigarettes are:

Canada Proposes Similar Legislation

On May 26, 2009, the Government of Canada proposed a ban on the sale of fruit flavored cigarettes and small cigars. Anti-smoking groups claim these products are aimed at children. The government is also reviewing tobacco advertising in newspapers and magazines that are claimed to be directed at adult audiences, but are available to everyone especially when the printed materials are given out for free.

"Tobacco is not candy and should never be mistaken as such," said Canada's Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

Canada's tobacco manufacturers refutes marketing flavored cigarettes to children. But even if they don't, the products are still available for sale since they can be imported from foreign companies. "Parents might not know about them, but their children do, " said Rob Cunningham, of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Canada's first lawsuit against the tobacco industry filed by the government of British Columbia will be going to trial on September 2011.

References

"FDA Parental Advisory on Flavored Tobacco Products - What You Need to Know," FDA Website 2009/09/22.

Klein, SM, et al. "Use of flavored cigarettes among older adolescents and adult smokers in the United States."

Dowd, A. "Canada eyes ban on flavored tobacco aimed at youths" Reuters, Van.Canada May 25, 2009

The copyright of the article FDA Bans Flavored Cigarette Sales to Minors in Public Healthcare Issues is owned by Alicia Richardson. Permission to republish FDA Bans Flavored Cigarette Sales to Minors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.