Menthol Cigarettes: Smooth and Dangerous?

When the House of Representatives passed a pioneering bill last month to give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products, one of the most contentious issues it faced, whether as to prohibit the use of menthol flavoring in cigarettes.

House punted, his bill directed federal health authorities for rapid assessment of public health impact of menthol cigarettes. With millions of Americans currently smoking menthol cigarettes, the question must be answered quickly.

There is ample reason to suspect that menthol may be harmful to many smokers and disproportionately harmful to black Americans. Menthol cigarettes have been on the market aggressively to African-Americans and more than 70 percent of black smokers in this country prefer mint menthol brands, compared with 25 percent to 30 percent of white Americans.

Seven former federal secretaries of health and Afro-American anti-smoking advocates called for an outright ban. But the evidence is not yet conclusive.

Menthol was added to cigarettes for decades in order to enhance the attractiveness of smoking. It acts as a mild local anesthetic, and gives the sensation of coolness in the mouth, throat and lungs. Menthol may not be dangerous in its own right, but some scientists believe that it could further damage caused by other toxic components of tobacco smoke or may encourage smokers inhale more deeply, increasing their exposure to carcinogens.

The main task is the fact that menthol, by reducing the discomfort of smoking, apparently to make it easier for the tobacco industry to lure new smokers and keep chronic smokers to quit. The new document says scientists from Harvard, based on internal industry documents that tobacco companies have manipulated menthol only for this purpose.

Racial elements makes the problem particularly flammable. Some experts worry that menthol cigarettes may be one reason why blacks suffer from some tobacco-related diseases. Recent studies, however, found no significant difference in the risk of disease for smokers who use mentholated cigarettes and those who do not.

The bill, approved by the House ban tobacco companies use a variety of fruits and sweets taste in the apparent exempting menthol. With the release of a feature of the legislation on tobacco control in the past five years. Proponents of regulation of tobacco came to the conclusion that menthol so crucial to the industry, and prefers to so many smokers that proposing a ban could scuttle any chances for tobacco regulation.

The Senate should follow the House lead and give the FDA regulatory control over tobacco. Then F.D.A. should move as quickly as possible to determine the effects of menthol and what should be done to regulate or prohibit. Americans should know once and for all, regardless of whether menthol makes cigarettes even deadly.

Cigarettes replace drinking

In Europe, a new substitute for cigarettes - after the electronic devices and smokeless nicotine patches to smokers would replace cigarette special dinner drink. The Dutch company Unined Drinks and Beauty Corporation has released a "liquid cigarette". According to the Dutch, the drink is the same feeling as after smoking - a light and refreshing effect eyforicheskie sense of calm.

In the "liquid cigarettes" no nicotine, but there is a mysterious African plant extracts. Bank of the drink, which will appear in European stores in late December, will cost about 3 euro.

Anti-organization of ASH have already expressed fears that the "liquid cigarettes" almost nothing is known, and no clinical trials, without which you can not know whether the drink is safe and is not addictive, says Sky News.

Cigarettes may be sold 'under the counter'

Cigarettes may have to be sold under the counter as part of new Government proposals described as "creepy and authoritarian".
Newsagents and supermarkets may also have to move their cigarette displays out of view so as not to tempt people to take up smoking.
The "out of sight, out of mind" proposal is part of the Department of Health's consultation to be launched later this spring, which looks at ways to stop children smoking. The relevant legislation could be introduced in the autumn.
But the move has been denounced by critics as further evidence of a growing "nanny state" and another assault on smokers. Neil Rafferty, a spokesman for the smokers' rights group Forest, said: "This is another attempt by the Government to stigmatise smokers and make them feel bad about themselves.
"It is a creepy and authoritarian measure. Tobacco is a perfectly legal product from which the Government makes more than £10 billion a year in taxes." Other measures on the table include the outlawing of vending machines from pubs and restaurants and making nicotine-replacement gums and patches easier to buy.
According to the Department of Health, the strategy - coupled with the ban on smoking in public places - will save hundreds of lives. Dawn Primarolo, the public health minister, said: "It's vital we get across the message to children that smoking is bad. If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that."
According to the Office for National Statistics, the proportion of adults who smoke has dropped from 24 per cent to 22 per cent since the ban was introduced last July. The Government has a target of reducing the proportion of smokers to 21 per cent by 2010. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said: "I think this is worth looking at. As someone who struggled with giving up smoking, it helps if you take away some of the temptation."
Shane Brennan, a spokesman for the Association of Convenience Stores, which represents 33,000 shops, said: "This is going to be a massive burden on retailers and we are not sure that the end justifies the means. Cigarettes are already kept behind the counter."
Mark Littlewood, the communications director of the think tank Progressive Vision, said: "Banning the display of cigarettes and vending machines would be petty, pointless and patronising." "These sorts of ideas are typical of a government who seem hell bent on intervening in every single aspect of our lives, however trivial."

Cigarette as Woman

Traditionally, the smoking is considered a masculine habit, the feminization of smoking occurred in tandem with the advent of fashion brands or premium brands of cigarettes specifically marketed toward ladies who see the use of these brands as a way to increase their sexual appeal. Most often this is focused on young fashion-conscious professional ladies who are the target demographic for these brands, which are differentiated by slimness and added length over traditional brands of cigarettes.

These brands include decorative ones like Eve, marketed strictly toward women like Virginia Slims, or as evening-out styles like Sobranie Cocktail or Sobranie Black Russian. Many fashion houses have lent their name to cigarettes; Yves Saint Laurent is probably the most successful of these, however many other brands have been marketed, from time to time, in select international markets: Givenchy, Versace, Pierre Cardin, Christian Lacroix and Cartier.

In the 1990s, makers created longer, 164 millimeter versions of several ladies' cigarettes. The famous pop diva Madonna used the brand Vogue name as the title of one of her very popular songs and she is also smoking it in her video. However, finding only a small niche market, the machines that produced them have since been dismantled. This cigarette is designed primarily for the female population

With the anti-smoking movement in the United States, cigarette manufacturers have turned to Asia, where there is a distinct market for female oriented brands, and to the nouveau riche in Russia.

Capri is a brand of cigarette produced by R. J. Reynolds. In 1987, it is the first widely-available cigarette having an extremely slim shape, at 17 mm in circumference and 100 mm in length, particularly marketed towards women as a way to increase their sexual appeal. The standard cigarettes are 25 mm in circumference, and slim cigarettes are 21 mm in circumference. Capri is available in regular and menthol light varieties, as well as regular and menthol ultra-light varieties.

Capri is also available in a 120 mm length, which the packaging describes as "luxury length."

More is a brand of cigarette directly marketed to women, with a dark brown wrapper.

This brand was introduced by RJ Reynolds in June 1975. It was initially tested in Oklahoma City in 1974. 'More' was the first successful 120 mm cigarette. It is sold in both the full flavor and menthol flavors. It is currently considered a niche brand by RJR, still sold, but not promoted by advertising. It is sold globally under license to various other tobacco companies. The brand has expanded to include 'light' styles in the form of both brown and white 120 mm and beige 100 mm styles.

In 2007, the Canadian market saw the addition of 120mm More cigarettes in two additional flavours: orange and whisky.

Virginia cigarettes are the first brand that was exclusively produced for women. This smoking product was declared as a symbol of freedom and self expression for ladies worldwide. Virginia Slims became very popular right from the moment of their appearance on the tobacco market. Women make it a part of their lifestyle, as it offers care and comfort every woman is looking for. Virginia Slims cigarettes are subtle in taste, that's why they are loved by a great number of users.An important place among premium female cigarettes is taken by Sobranie cigarettes, which are characterized as a high-quality brand. It's hard do deny, because Sobranie is a genuine high-end tobacco product that has no substitutes. This confirmed by thousands of women who have tried this delightful smoking product at least once.

Every modern woman tends to one thing - glamour. And namely for ladies, Gallagher company has created Glamour Cigarettes.

Glamour cigarettes are one of the most successful ladies' brand that the company has created. Due to the attractive design and delightful taste, this brand has become a daily accessory for a lot of smoking women.

This product fits even the smallest handbags. Glamour will always astonish with its delicacy and luscious outer design.

Greece is famous for its mythological past all over the world. Indeed, Karelia cigarettes have

originated from “Kasetina” - a typical brand of classic Greek cigarettes. “Kasetina” was an inspiration to producers, when creating the package for George Karelias and Sons cigarettes.

Karelia cigarettes are famous for their modern taste. Karelia is celebrated as a premium tobacco brand by smokers from Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Africa and South America. Karelia Slims is a cigarette brand that illustrates the elegance and freedom of women.

Lady cigarettes are available in the following range: Lady Diamond, Lady Rose and Lady Menthol.

Every detail of Lady cigarettes was created with admiration and care for smoking women; Lady brand is a real female thing. The special filter on Lady cigarettes is also “unique”. And last but not least is their super slim design.

As the producer stated, this cigarette brand was created as a tribute to all stylish women who appreciate their identity and exclusiveness.

Vogue brand is ideal in its taste and design. This tobacco product is exclusive in all and will never be compared or replaced by any lady cigarettes. Smoking Vogue is enjoyable, aromatic and subtle.

The logo of Vogue cigarettes represents a frond, which is stylishly repeated on the inner part of the pack’s top.

Vogue cigarettes are fashionable and stylish. The design of Vogue packs has a sense of elegance and beauty.