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Menthol Cigarette

A menthol cigarette is a cigarette flavored with the compound menthol, a substance which triggers the cold-sensitive nerves in the skin. Menthol cigarettes have also been shown to inhibit nicotine metabolism, causing "systemic enhancement in exposure to nicotine."

Origins

Menthol cigarettes were first developed by Lloyd "Spud" Hughes in 1925, and Spud brand menthol cigarettes went on to become the 5th most popular brand in the U.S. by 1932. R.J. Reynolds nationally launched the Kool brand of menthol cigarettes in 1933, and later launched the first menthol filter-tip cigarettes in 1956 under the Salem brand. Currently, Newports are the most popular brand of menthol cigarettes in the U.S. Other brands sold today include Marlboro Menthol, American Spirits Menthol, Misty, Consulate, Pall Mall Menthol, and Camel Menthol. In the UK, there are a number of cigarette brands who sell menthol variants, such as: Lambert & Butler, JPS, Sterling, Mayfair and Richmond.

Use and Popularity

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's 2006 Cigarette Report, menthol cigarettes constitute 20% of the American market, down from 27% from 2002-2005. Additionally, menthol cigarettes are purchased disproportionately by African-American smokers, with 80% of African-American smokers consuming menthol cigarettes primarily.

A 2008 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that 33.9 percent of smokers use menthol cigarettes, compared to 31 percent in 2004. Much of the increase comes from young people.

Regulation

Although the use of menthol in ointments and cough drops is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States of America, regulation of cigarettes was removed from their purview in 2000 by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling,FDA v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gave the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products and ban flavor additives, although the act contained an exception for menthol.

On March 18, 2011 the panel concluded that removing menthol cigarettes from the market would benefit public health in the United States, but stopped short of recommending that the Food and Drug Administration take any specific actions, like restricting or banning the additive. In response, the tobacco industry released a report to the FDA claiming menthol cigarettes are no riskier than regular cigarettes and should not be regulated differently.

A progress report on panel findings is expected from the FDA in July 2011.

Opposition to Proposed Ban

Several minority groups have voiced opposition to a proposed ban on menthol in cigarettes. The Congress of Racial Equality, the National Black Chamber of Commerce,the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the National Black Police Association have urged the FDA to reject a ban on mentholated cigarettes due to concerns that banning mentholated cigarettes could spur an illicit market for the outlawed products in minority communities. Groups representing law enforcement officers also oppose the ban. The Law Enforcement Alliance of America and the National Troopers Coalition have expressed concern of the black market created if the FDA enacted a ban on menthol cigarettes.

The proposed menthol ban also saw opposition from organized labor. In December 2010, workers from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union protested outside a meeting between FDA officials and industry representatives in Raleigh, NC, arguing that a menthol ban would cost many workers their jobs.

Additionally, the National Association of Convenience Stores opposes the ban based on menthol cigarettes accounting for 4% of their sales.