Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration submitted a proposal for a menthol ban to the White House that would prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and flavored cigars.

NACS is encouraging its members to contact the White House urging them to stop both of these bans from moving forward. The menthol market makes up roughly 34% of cigarette sales, and flavored cigars account for 51% of cigar sales. The menthol ban on these products would not make them simply disappear. Instead, it would push current users to the illicit market, which will ultimately hurt our communities and negatively impact the businesses operated by responsible tobacco retailers. 

Use the NACS Grassroots portal to send a message to the White House voicing concerns for your business and the industry at large if the bans were to go into effect. The portal has a text box where you can send a personalized message to the White House, or you can send the prewritten message that NACS has provided.

The prewritten message begins with:

As a member of the convenience store industry, I’m writing to ask that you stop the FDA’s ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars from taking effect. Given the large number of users of these products and the addictiveness of the products, I am concerned that these prohibitions will not significantly diminish the purchase or use of these products. Instead, it will just push current users to the illicit market, which will take the products outside of the normal protections regarding the production and sale of the products (including limiting sales to minors) and hurt our communities.

After you write your message, you will then fill out some contact information and simply click “Send Message.”

Reach out to the White House today to ensure our industry, businesses and communities are protected from these menthol and flavor bans. You can access the Grassroots portal here.