As of 20th May 2020, menthol cigarettes will no longer be available to buy or sell throughout the UK, as part of an initiative to improve public health and deter underage smokers from starting smoking.
New tobacco controls for a better future
The new law will mean that as of May 20th all flavoured tobacco products will no longer be on sale, including menthol cigarettes, dual menthol cigarettes containing a crushable capsule, flavoured rolling tobacco, menthol filters or papers, and slim cigarettes.
This is the final stage of the European Union Revised Tobacco Products Directive that has stepped up tobacco control with the aim of a smoke free future. The four-year directive began in May 2016 and has previously seen flavoured cigarettes only being available in packs of 20, and in 2017 small packs of rolling tobacco and ten packs of cigarettes were banned.
This final phase has been brought in as a way to make smoking less appealing, especially to young people, as the menthol used in these tobacco products can make smoking them feel and taste less harsh than regular tobacco products.
Amanda Sandford, from the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), explains;
"There is evidence that menthol cigarettes relax the airways and the flavour masks the harshness of the smoke, therefore younger people find it easier to smoke. However, it is an absolute myth that menthol cigarettes are better for you. All cigarettes are harmful and menthol cigarettes are just as dangerous as normal cigarettes."
It is hoped that this new law, which will be enforced throughout the EU, could reduce the number of smokers by as much as 2.4 million across participating countries.
It is also reported that Brexit will unlikely have any affect on these laws, as Chief Executive of ASH Deborah Arnott states;
"The regulations will be reviewed this year but given that the UK goes further than the EU requires on tobacco regulations e.g. we ban all advertising, and point of sale displays, and require plain packaging, it is unlikely that leaving the EU will lead to a weakening of our tobacco regulations."
Alternative solutions
While the menthol cigarette ban will affect all tobacco products, it will not be applicable to e-cigarettes and e-liquids, offering a prime opportunity for menthol smokers to consider making the switch from smoking to vaping.
E-cigarettes are endorsed by many healthcare organisations such as Public Health England, the NHS, ASH and Cancer Research UK, and have been found by PHE to be ‘95% less harmful than smoking’. They offer an effective smoking alternative and millions of UK smokers have already successfully made the switch, contributing to phenomenal declines in smoking rates that have now seen the UK hit its lowest smoking rates ever.
Pop in to your local Evapo store and speak to a member of our team or head over to our website to find out more about e-cigarettes and how whether they could work for you as a smoking cessation tool.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10658732/menthol-cigarettes-banned-cigarette-law-shake-up-2020/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index
https://www.acs.org.uk/sites/default/files/acs_menthol_cigs_guide_d4_v1_04.12.19.pdf
