Proponents claim that because young people report that they use flavored tobacco products, then flavors in cigars must have caused them to try cigars. However, no study has asked young people why they started to use flavored tobacco products. Rather, the questions are more basic, such as asking whether they use flavored tobacco products and which products they use. This is significant because correlation is not the same thing as causation, and to suggest that because a small percentage of underage people used flavored tobacco products, given the many reasons that might cause them to experiment with tobacco products, it does not follow that flavors are the reason why they use tobacco.
Moreover, a blanket flavor ban is contrary to the scientific evidence that does exist. The FDA’s Office of Science has recognized that some flavors in tobacco products are not likely to appeal to youth. In a process that approved the marketing of certain flavored smokeless tobacco products, the Office of Science stated:
“The proposed products are reported to have flavors such as mint, wintergreen or tobacco character with citrus. While flavored smokeless tobacco products are a potential concern of youth initiation, these proposed flavors are consistent with traditionally available [smokeless tobacco] flavors and are not novel flavors that likely increase appeal to youth.”
This finding from the FDA’s Office of Science demonstrates that a blanket prohibition on all flavors does not target youth initiation and use.
In conclusion, local government officials should focus on responding to the underlying causes of risky teenager behavior rather than adopting an ordinance that simply bans all legal tobacco products. A policy that outright prohibits flavored tobacco products is not necessarily the solution to the issue of minors using tobacco. Instead, understanding youth behavior, and continuing to educate youth about why they should not initiate tobacco use may be the more prudent and, ultimately, the more successful approach.
This story first appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Tobacco Business magazine. Members of the tobacco industry are eligible for a complimentary subscription to our magazine. Click here for details.
– Contributed by Thomas A. Briant, executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO)
