Menthol – Progress and Opportunities to Act

FDA Sends Menthol Rules to White House

On October 16, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent two rules prohibiting the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars to the White House for review. This is the last regulatory step before the FDA issues final rules. It has been over fourteen months since the public comment period ended on these proposed rules to ban—and more than 14 years of waiting for the agency to act on this issue.

Learn more.

How Can Quitlines Help Accelerate Progress?
Tobacco companies have targeted some groups in promoting menthol cigarettes, which can be more addictive than other cigarettes and more difficult to quit. While research has suggested that using menthol products may be associated with lower odds of cessation, quitlines reduce barriers to accessing help for all individuals who want to quit tobacco by providing free, proven digital and phone services in every state in the U.S. One study found that the quitline was effective at reaching people who use menthol products.

As the rules move forward, the quitline community plays a critical role in supporting people who use menthol in accessing evidence-based support. NAQC's 2022 Annual Survey of State Quitlines found that 16% of state quitlines conducted special outreach or promotion to individuals who use menthol products. Additionally, over a third (35%) of state quitlines offered a tailored protocol for people seeking help for menthol product use, and three provided incentives for quitline participants who reported using menthol products.

Lend Your Voice

The FDA's decision to prohibit these products is a historic action to protect kids from tobacco addiction, advance health equity, and save lives, especially among Black Americans. All public shows of support for the rules are helpful at this time. A social media toolkit developed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is located here for sample posts and graphics supporting the rules moving to the White House. All graphics can be downloaded here: https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/media/2022/menthol-graphics. Additional background and supporting materials can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org/menthol.