Press Releases
02/08/2021
Attorney General Tong Submits Testimony, Co-Authors Op-Ed Supporting Legislation to Prohibit Sale of Flavored Tobacco
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong submitted testimony in support of Senate Bill 326, An Act Prohibiting the Sale of Flavored Cigarettes, Tobacco Products, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Vapor Products.“We can’t wait any longer to protect the health of Connecticut residents, especially our kids. Connecticut can be a leader by ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products – including menthol cigarettes, and flavored e-cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco,” Attorney General Tong states in his testimony. “Ending the sale of flavored tobacco products will have an enormous impact in reducing the number of people who die or suffer debilitating illness from tobacco use, significantly reducing the number of young people who become addicted to tobacco products, and reversing the youth e-cigarette epidemic.”
Over 80 percent of kids who have ever used tobacco products started with a flavored product. No other flavored product contributes more to the death and disease caused by tobacco use than menthol cigarettes. Menthol in cigarettes disguises the harsh flavor of tobacco, making it attractive for beginners who are experimenting, and increasing the likelihood of addiction.
Menthol is not only a starting point for youth. These products disproportionately affect communities of color and other groups, such as the LGBTQ community and those experiencing mental health challenges. Menthol cigarettes are a leading reason why tobacco use is the No. 1 preventable cause of death for Black Americans.
On Sunday, Attorney General Tong co-authored an op-ed supporting the legislation with Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, that ran in Hearst Connecticut newspapers.
Attorney General Tong also recently joined a bipartisan coalition of 23 state attorneys general calling on the Food and Drug Administration to ban menthol cigarettes.
- Twitter: @AGWilliamTong
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
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