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Flavored tobacco: Candy-coated addiction
The emergence of new flavored tobacco products on the market poses a significant threat to the public's health especially Washington state youth.
Flavored tobacco appeals to youth
- Tobacco products, such as cigars, cigarillos and snus (teabag-like pouches of tobacco), have brightly colored packaging and are available in a wide array of youth-friendly flavors.
- New dissolvable tobacco products like orbs (dissolvable tobacco pellets), sticks, and strips closely resemble gum, candy, and breath strips.
- Flavors mask tobacco's harshness making them easier to use and increasing their appeal to youth.
- A 2007 national study showed that 17-year old youth smokers were 3 times more likely to use flavored cigarettes than adult smokers over the age of 25.
- Nationally, 90% of current adult smokers started using tobacco at or before they turned 18.
Flavored cigars and chew are still legal to sell
In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes to protect our youth from initiating tobacco use. However, the ban does not include other types of flavored tobacco such as smokeless tobacco or cigars. Maine and New York City have closed the loophole by banning the sale of all flavored tobacco.
Example flavors:
- Apple Martini
- Blueberry
- Burst
- Champagne
- Chocolate
- French Vanilla
- Grape
- Peach
- Strawberry
- Tequila
- Wine