Lawsuit seeks to force ban on menthol cigarettes after months of delays by Biden administration

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press Finance, via Yahoo! Finance

Associated Press Finance
Lawsuit seeks to force ban on menthol cigarettes after months of delays by Biden administration

MATTHEW PERRONE
Tue, Apr 2, 2024, 12:28 PM EDT3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anti-smoking groups sued the U.S. government Tuesday over a long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes, which has been idling at the White House for months. ... The lawsuit is the latest effort to force the government to ban menthols, which are disproportionately used by Black smokers and young people. It comes amid growing concerns from advocates that the federal plan could be derailed by election-year politics.

Health officials under President Joe Biden initially targeted last August to publish the rule eliminating the minty flavor. Late last year, White House officials said they would take until March to review the rule. Three nonprofit groups, including Action on Smoking and Health, filed their lawsuit in a federal court in California after the March deadline passed.

“Because of defendants’ inaction, tobacco companies have continued to use menthol cigarettes to target youth, women, and the Black community — all to the detriment of public health,” the groups state in their complaint. ... A spokesperson for the White House could not immediately comment on the lawsuit when reached Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration has spent years developing the plan to eliminate menthol, estimating it could prevent 300,000 to 650,000 smoking deaths over several decades. Most of those preventable deaths would be among Black Americans. ... Like all major federal regulations, the plan must get final approval from the White House.

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Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lawsuit-seeks-force-ban-menthol-162816362.html

[MichMan]

1. Should have been banned long before now

What are they waiting for?

[Tactical Peek]

2. Because prohibition works so well.

[Warpy]

4. They're not prohibiting tobacco, that would be stupid

They're prohibiting an additive to tobacco..

Next maybe they'll prohibit sugars, used to boost the potency of nicotine.

In fact, I'd love to see all additives banned, maybe that would mitigate some of the harm. We really don't know.

I think some people are always going to smoke the stuff. As long as they set fire to it outside, we'll get along just fine.

[Oopsie Daisy]

5. Comparing banning menthol flavoring to Prohibition is a False Analogy fallacy.

"Prohibition" enacted in the United States from 1920 to 1933, was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The aim was to eliminate alcohol consumption completely. In contrast, the FDA's ban on menthol flavoring in cigarettes is a targeted measure intended to reduce the appeal of cigarettes, particularly to young people and minority communities, due to the specific health risks associated with menthol cigarettes.

The FDA's decision to ban menthol flavoring in cigarettes (not cigarettes themselves) is driven by public health concerns. Menthol cigarettes have been found to have a higher addiction potential and may make it more challenging for smokers to quit. Moreover, studies have shown that menthol cigarettes contribute to higher smoking initiation rates among young people and have a disproportionate impact on certain communities.

Prohibition, on the other hand, was driven by a mix of moral and social concerns, and its primary goal was to reduce alcohol-related social problems.

The FDA's decision to ban menthol flavoring in cigarettes is based on scientific research and evidence linking menthol cigarettes to adverse health effects. It is a targeted regulatory measure intended to improve public health outcomes.

Prohibition, in contrast, was a more drastic and blanket approach that sought to completely eradicate alcohol consumption, regardless of the potential health consequences associated with moderate or responsible alcohol use.

Prohibition faced significant challenges in terms of enforcement, with widespread noncompliance and the rise of illegal alcohol production and distribution. This ultimately led to the repeal of Prohibition. In contrast, the FDA's ban on menthol flavoring in cigarettes falls within the scope of the agency's regulatory powers, which are supported by existing laws and regulations.

Furthermore, public support for reducing smoking rates and addressing the harms of tobacco use is generally higher compared to the support that Prohibition garnered during its time.

[Oopsie Daisy]

3. Excellent News!!

[MichMan]

6. FDA banned every other flavor used in cigarettes 15 years ago, but exempted menthol

Last edited Tue Apr 2, 2024, 04:35 PM - Edit history (3)

The Food and Drug Administration has spent years developing the plan to eliminate menthol, estimating it could prevent 300,000 to 650,000 smoking deaths over several decades. Most of those preventable deaths would be among Black Americans.

“If Black lives truly matter, then we must end the sale of menthol cigarettes and do it now,” said Dr. Carol McGruder, of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership, in a statement. McGruder's group is among those suing the FDA and its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services.