In 2019, 97% of youth e-cigarette users reported using a flavored product. With over 15,000 flavored tobacco products on the market, it's no wonder that the majority of kids report using e-cigarettes and cigars "because they come in flavors I like." This is no accident — tobacco companies intentionally manufacture and sell fruit and candy flavored products to get kids addicted.
Making matters worse, menthol tobacco products are also popular with over half of youth smokers ages 12-17 compared to only one-third of smokers ages 35 and older who use them. Even more concerning, menthol cigarettes are used at disproportionately higher rates by African Americans (84.6%), Hispanics or Latinos (46.9%), Asian Americans (38%), and LGBTQ youth (71%) who smoke. In the US, African Americans suffer from the highest percentage of tobacco-related deaths.
The American Heart Association wants to put a stop to this dangerous trend by ending the sale of all flavors in all tobacco products, but we can't do it alone.
To ensure we don't lose a new generation of kids to nicotine, we must remove all flavored tobacco products from the market. All proposed flavored tobacco legislation needs to include all flavors and all types of tobacco products.
Sign onto our petition today to stand with us in demanding legislation that will truly help prevent tobacco use by ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products including mint and menthol. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products will ensure a healthier community for us all.
