As of yesterday, May 20th, 2020, the sale of menthol cigarettes, including cigarettes which contain mint flavour capsules are banned in the UK. This isn’t new, in fact the law came into being in 2016, what has ended today is the grace period for stores to sell out their stock.
The ban prohibits the sale of cigarettes with a characterising flavour. Essentially, if you can smell or taste something other than tobacco, and that taste/smell is noticeable before and during consumption, then it is no longer legal in the UK.
Here’s a quick overview of the why, what and how of the ban.
WHY HAVE MENTHOL CIGARETTES BEEN BANNED?
Menthol Cigarettes are commonly associated with being more addictive than regular cigarettes. Whether that is true or not is a subject of ongoing debate, but what is clear, is that menthol makes it easier smoke as the menthol reduces the protective respiratory responses to irritants in cigarette smoke. The fact that it makes smoking easier is the driving force behind the ban as it is widely acknowledged that new, young, smokers often start with menthol flavours.
According to a study completed by researchers at Yale and the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, published online in September in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, scientists concluded that menthol posed the biggest danger to young smokers. “Menthol may make smoke inhalation easier to tolerate and therefore promote nicotine addiction and smoking-related illness,” said author Sven-Eric Jordt, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology at the School of Medicine.
WHAT TYPES OF MENTHOL CIGARETTES HAVE BEEN BANNED?
After May 20th, 2020 it will be offence to manufacture or sell a cigarette or hand rolling tobacco with:
- a filter, paper, package, capsule or other component containing flavourings
- a filter, paper or capsule containing tobacco or nicotine or
- a technical feature allowing the consumer to modify the smell, taste, or smoke intensity of the product.
THE BAN DOES NOT AFFECT E-CIGARETTES
Fear not, the ban of menthol cigarettes and additive products does not apply to vaping or e-liquids in any way.
For many smokers, the ban will pose a significant problem as their only option in terms of smoking is traditional, unflavoured, cigarettes. Of course, now would be a great time for menthol smokers to make the switch to vaping so they can get off the cigarettes and still enjoy the menthol hit.
As part of our SWITCH TO QUIT programme we have created two new bundles which include the menthol flavours and the online exclusive green vape devices.
STAY SAFE OUT THERE.
Joanne Emmerson FCIM
Head of Marketing, Ibiza Club
Joanne is a fellow of the Royal Chartered Institute of Marketing and has 30+ years marketing experience. She has worked all around the world, is published in 7 countries and teaches marketing communication theory at Post Graduate level both in the UK and USA. She has worked alongside many government bodies, health organisations and national charities. ivcservice@ibizavapeclub.com
