So get this… 81% of youth who have ever used tobacco started with a flavored product. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this really sucks. And we know what you’re thinking:
What’s so wrong with flavored tobacco products? …Well a lot, actually.
While we alllll know the nicotine in tobacco products makes them hard to quit, flavors are now making them easier than ever to START, especially for teens and young adults.
Mostly because flavored products appeal to *cough cough TARGET* teens. In the past, a tobacco company even considered adding honey to cigarettes because teenagers like sweet products. And I mean, come on… They come in packaging that literally makes them look like candy. And as we all know, young people love candy. Annnnd like candy, they’ve got a flavor for everyone (and we mean EVERYONE). In fact, as of 2014, there are more than 7,500 of them.
Heck, even little cigars, cigarillos, and large cigars come in flavors like sour apple, cherry, grape, chocolate and menthol.
So while there is a ban on tobacco companies from making and selling flavored cigarettes (menthol didn't make the cut), there are still are a lot of flavored products on the market like dips, chews, hookah and cigars that attract new smokers every day.
We do have a bit of good news though. In case you haven't heard, San Francisco was the first U.S. city to ban flavored tobacco, and now many other cities are beginning to follow in their footsteps. Woooo San Fran! We're definitely making some headway, but we've still got work to do.
Let’s be the generation to #FinishFlavors and end smoking for good.