Menthol, Skinny Cigarettes, And Rolling Tobacco Now Banned In The UK

Strict new legislation in the UK plans to outlaw menthol cigarettes and rolling tobacco for good. The move is aimed at helping young smokers quit smoking, as it has been observed that children and young adults are more drawn towards flavored cigarettes–keeping them at risk of eventually becoming chronic smokers.

The law, which is likely to come to effect in May, comes soon after lobbyists have already prevented the sale of menthol cigarettes in packs larger than 20. At present, smokers in the UK will have to shell out £3 or £4 for a packet of 10 cigarettes. While the amount might not be much, the rise in price was brought forth to deter young people from smoking.

“Cigarettes are already expensive. And the price increase of cigarettes is a key factor in making people quit smoking,” a spokesman for the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said. “So by removing the packet of 10 cigarettes, this means people will have to find that extra money for a packet. It will hit poorer and younger smokers harder who are more likely to buy smaller packs,” he added.

The new laws on menthol cigarettes ban any individual from supplying or hand-rolling tobacco with (a) a filter, paper, package, capsule or other component containing flavorings; (b) a filter, paper or capsule containing tobacco or nicotine; or (c) a technical feature allowing the consumer to modify the smell, taste, or smoke intensity of the product.

The move is also aimed at reducing the tendency among the youth to take up smoking, as they get started with menthol. Menthol cigarettes are categorically popular among young smokers as well as smokers with health issues. There’s a popular assumption which states menthol cigarettes are safer than the regular unfavoured tobacco cigarettes. But, in reality, they are not. The supposedly “healthier, cooler and more refreshing” variant poses serious health implications.

In 2018, as per a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) showed approximately 12.4 percent of smokers in England indicated menthol as their usual brand, with an added 2.2 percent indicating other flavored cigarettes.