WSJ: US government temporarily abandons ban on menthol cigarettes

Photo: ANP

The US government is temporarily abandoning a plan to impose a ban on menthol cigarettes. The Wall Street Journal reports this based on sources. President Joe Biden’s administration reportedly wants to prevent this ban from arousing anger among black voters in particular. Menthol cigarettes are very popular among the black population in the United States.

According to the newspaper, the government wants to take more time to look at the public health benefits of such a ban and the political risks. According to research, 81 percent of smoking black adults in the US choose menthol cigarettes. Tobacco manufacturers are said to conduct targeted advertising and marketing campaigns in black communities with menthol cigarettes, for example by sponsoring jazz concerts. This has been criticized by action groups.

But Biden would not want to risk anger among black voters now that presidential elections are taking place later this year. Menthol cigarettes account for more than a third of all cigarettes sold in the US annually. Moreover, some black leaders have raised concerns that a ban would strengthen the illegal market for menthol cigarettes.

There has been a ban on menthol cigarettes in the European Union since 2020.