How the Fight to Ban Menthol Cigarettes Affects Black Americans

By Maya Adam

An ad for Newport cigarettes depicts a Black couple, enjoying a delicious burger and fries. Beneath them is simply the phrase “pleasure!” next to a photo of menthol cigarettes (see Fig. 1). This is one of many examples of tobacco companies targeting Black audiences, and the results have proven to be devastating. One of the leading causes of death for African Americans is tobacco-related diseases like cancer and heart disease, which kill over 45,000 Black Americans a year (American Lung Association). Out of all tobacco products, menthol cigarettes have been proven to be one of the most severe in terms of causing detrimental health effects and increasing the likelihood of addiction. 

Menthol is a chemical found in peppermint and mint plants, though it can also be artificially produced in a lab. Not only does it reduce the harshness of inhaling cigarette smoke, but it also suppresses the cough reflex. It is therefore no surprise that menthol smokers are less likely to quit in comparison to non-menthol smokers. Eight out of ten Black Americans who are smokers use menthol cigarettes (American Lung Association). This statistic is due to years of companies marketing menthol cigarettes in Black neighborhoods and  Black communities. These brands have gone past advertising on billboards and magazines and expanded their marketing strategies by supporting Black leaders financially, sponsoring events predominantly attended by Black audiences, and even going as far as discounting menthol products in Black neighborhoods (Limbong). The tobacco industry has spent more than $8 billion on advertising cigarettes, with much of their advertising concentrated in areas populated by Black Americans. The effects of decades of cigarette use have had a huge negative impact on the health of Black communities, leading to increased rates of heart disease, lung cancer, and strokes (NAACP). 

Around 19 million people in America currently smoke menthol cigarettes. Researchers have shown that ending the sale of menthol cigarettes will save a countless number of lives. One study even estimates that around 1 million people would quit smoking within 17 months of this ban (American Lung Association). However, banning menthol cigarettes is a complex issue that has received pushback. The proposal of the ban has heavily divided racial justice advocates who debate whether the health benefits of the ban outweigh the possible downsides of further criminalizing Black communities. Many feel that a federal ban on menthol cigarettes will only give police officers more opportunities and reasons to detain Black Americans, who are already disproportionately affected by the American legal system (Snipe). In April 2022, the FDA proposed rules regarding ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Later in October 2023, these rules were sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review (NAACP). But as of March 2024, the regulations are still waiting on final approval from President Biden. 

Currently, over 170 communities have regulations put in place prohibiting flavored tobacco and menthol products. Some states like California and Massachusetts have already taken the initiative to ban flavored cigarette products. These laws have proven effective, and studies have even shown that restricting the sale of flavored tobacco products has reduced the amount of youth using them and increased the number of people who successfully quit smoking (Office on Smoking and Health). 

If the ban on menthol cigarettes is passed by President Biden, questions still arise in terms of the effects it may have on Black communities, particularly in terms of whether future generations will still suffer the harsh impact of menthol cigarettes. Furthermore, even if the ban is not passed, it's clear that we still need more restrictions on harmful menthol cigarette advertising and more public health campaigns increasing consumers’ awareness of the harmful impacts of smoking. Evidently, there's no “pleasure!” to be found in cancer and lung disease due to nicotine addiction.

Works Cited

 Office on Smoking and Health. “Addressing Menthol Tobacco Products.” Www.cdc.gov, 25 Aug. 2023, www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/menthol/addressing-menthol.html#:~:text=As%20of%20March%202023%2C%20over.

Association, American Lung. “What’s Happening with Menthol Cigarettes and How Does It Impact Me?” Www.lung.org, www.lung.org/blog/whats-happening-with-menthol-cigarettes#:~:text=Why%20Is%20This%20Important%3F. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

Limbong, Andrew. “How the Tobacco Industry Targeted Black Americans with Menthol Smokes.” NPR.org, 29 Apr. 2022, www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1095291808/tobacco-industry-targeted-Black-americans-with-menthols.

“Menthol Cigarette Ban Issue Brief | NAACP.” Naacp.org, 15 Feb. 2024, naacp.org/resources/menthol-cigarette-ban-issue-brief#:~:text=The%20NAACP%20calls%20on%20state. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

Snipe, Margo. “A Nationwide Ban on Menthol Cigarettes Could Be Coming, and It’s Dividing Racial Justice Advocates.” Capital B News, 19 Feb. 2022, capitalbnews.org/menthol-cigarette-ban-racial-justice/. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.

“What Is Menthol? | American Lung Association.” Www.lung.org, www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/health-effects/what-is-menthol.