CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WVEC) — FDA is proposing banning menthol cigarettes in an attempt to cut down on children and teen smoking.
On Thursday, the FDA proposed banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as well as restricting sweet-flavored electronic cigarette liquid.
The news came as a surprise to Ali Hatim, who owns VA Tobacco in Chesapeake. He said 80 percent of the cigarettes he sells are menthol.
“If the government take the menthol out, probably we lose money,” said Hatim.
According to the FDA, more than half of the children, 12-17, who start smoking will do so with a menthol cigarette.
“Younger kids want to be with the in-crowd, and they are trying to get them to smoke cigarettes because that will make them feel like they are grown or more mature,” said Jerome Gaynor.
Gaynor said he has suffered multiple health effects due to smoking. He doesn’t want their grandchildren to make the same mistake.
“I think that’s a good idea to get people to stop smoking cigarettes. I had smoked for almost 20 years,” said Gaynor.
According to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarette use is up 78 percent among high school students and 48 percent among middle school students.
Hatim said he turns away underage kids on a regular basis trying to buy these exotic flavors.
“Like a sweet, like a Hawaiian, like fruity, they don’t like just regular tobacco,” said Gaynor.
Hatim said if these newly proposed bans save lives he is in total support, and if it puts him out of business, he said there are other ways to make a living.
“The cigarettes are actually a bad thing for everybody, but this is my first business you know for tobacco. I try to make money to take care of my family and my kids,” said Hatim.
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