Menthol cigarettes were allowed to be sold in the EU only until May 2020. For many people that was hard to understand, because flavored tobacco had long been popular. Is menthol even more harmful than nicotine? We take a closer look.
What are menthol cigarettes?
Menthol cigarettes are cigarettes that contain 0.5 percent menthol . Menthol is a natural essential oil from the mint family. In the tobacco industry, menthol is a sought-after ingredient because many people do not know that conventional cigarettes can also contain menthol.
Regular cigarettes have a menthol content of around 0.01 to 0.03 percent. Even this small amount can make the smoke feel smoother, without creating a distinct mint flavor.
Menthol cigarettes also make the smoke feel smoother, but add the minty taste on top. Many consumers enjoy this flavored tobacco because the additive changes the smoking experience.
Why are menthol cigarettes considered harmful?
Flavored tobacco is not limited to menthol. In fact, alongside menthol cigarettes, other flavored tobacco products that mask the original tobacco taste were also banned. Menthol was one of the most popular flavors.
Menthol is also used in food and cosmetics. If you have a cough, you might suck a menthol candy. That can create the impression that the mint effect is something positive.
Many smokers therefore assume that menthol cigarettes are somehow less harsh than conventional cigarettes. In reality, however, they are not nicotine-free tobacco. Nicotine remains part of the product, so menthol cigarettes are not a tobacco-free option if you want to change your smoking routine.
Menthol cigarettes also contain addictive nicotine
Menthol cigarettes therefore carry the same tobacco-related concerns as regular cigarettes. They can make the smoke feel less irritating to the airways, and that is exactly what made them so popular. This is also where the risk lies.
Because many smokers feel less scratching in the throat, they may tend to inhale more deeply when smoking menthol cigarettes. That also means cigarette smoke is drawn deeper into the lungs.
Menthol cigarettes have also been described as an entry point for young people. The flavored experience can make the first steps into regular smoking feel easier. It is also a misconception that menthol cigarettes make giving up smoking easier.
Tobacco substitute instead of flavored tobacco
The EU banned flavored tobacco from May 2020. That was a major step for public health and a blow to tobacco companies. If the ban means fewer young people get introduced to tobacco consumption, it makes sense.
Anyone who previously smoked flavored tobacco or menthol cigarettes can now switch to a tobacco substitute, for example in the form of herbal cigarettes.
Tobacco substitutes, such as nicotine-free herbal blends, are plant-based and made without tobacco additives. Because this is a nicotine-free tobacco substitute, it can be a fitting option if you want to move away from menthol cigarettes and keep the ritual tobacco-free.
Herbal blends are a practical tobacco substitute
Do you want to change your smoking routine and have struggled before?
Have you smoked menthol cigarettes until now and are looking for another alternative?
Are you in the mood to try something new?
