One provision of the tobacco bill signed into law with much pomp and circumstance on Monday is the prohibition of flavored cigarettes that supposedly appeal to younger smokers with the notable exception of menthol, which continues to enjoy its 28 percent market share of the cigarette industry and 80 percent preferred status among African-American smokers.
With irony befitting this week s celebration of the law, Philip Morris simultaneously released its latest Marlboro Blend No. 54, a menthol-flavored cigarette, with perfect impunity under the law.
The lawmakers are so happy with themselves for outlawing strawberry cigarettes that no one smoked in the first place, while menthol is the most significant flavor by far, says ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross. Menthol is the only flavor that successfully entices smokers, especially younger smokers, and it s the only one not banned. This law is supposed to protect children from manipulation by tobacco companies. Who s going protect children from being manipulated by our politicians when they work hand in hand with cigarette companies?
The product is even named so as to evoke a response from inner-city youths. Some supposed slang definitions of the term 54 include a very hot girl with a really fine ass, according to online urban dictionaries. This serves as a reminder that these products target specific ethnic groups as well as age groups.
You re automatically targeting young African-American smokers when marketing mentholated cigarettes, says ACSH s Jeff Stier, and that is perfectly legal under the new law.