FDA proposes ban on menthol cigarettes, cigars

The U.S. government on Thursday released its long-awaited plan to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, citing the toll on Black smokers and young people. The Food and Drug Administration said eliminating menthol cigarettes could prevent between 300,000 and 650,000 smoking deaths over 40 years. Menthol accounts for more than a third of cigarettes sold in the U.S., and the mint flavor is favored by Black smokers and young people.

Class discussion: Do you think eliminating menthol will help keep young people from getting hooked on cigarettes or cigars? Why or why not? Should all flavored vaping liquids also be banned? How addictive is the nicotine in cigarettes, cigars and vaping liquids? Why is nicotine legal when other addictive drugs are illegal? Does nicotine addiction kill more or fewer people than other addictive drugs? Can laws completely prevent people from using dangerous drugs?