Sun editorial:

Removing a temptation

FDA deserves praise for banning flavored cigarettes that entice young people

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

Adults with evil intent know that one of the best ways to lure a child is with sweets.

Tobacco companies also know this, which is why they so eagerly produce cigarettes that have candy or fruit flavoring. As a report issued last year by the American Cancer Society reminded us, tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds has produced Camel cigarettes with flavors including lime, coconut, pineapple, toffee and mint — all the better to lure young people.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday put a stop to this madness by announcing a ban on flavored cigarettes, a decision that was long overdue. The announcement came three months after President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gives the FDA power to regulate tobacco products.

Supporters of the new law made the banning of flavored cigarettes one of their highest priorities, and for good reason. Flavored cigarettes provide a convenient gateway that Big Tobacco has used to cultivate new generations of smokers.

The strategy seems to have worked. Studies have shown that 17-year-olds are three times as likely as adults over age 25 to use flavored cigarettes, the FDA stated.

Youths who make the tragic mistake of taking up smoking also will become the next generation of patients stricken with cancer or heart disease, further straining the nation’s health care system.

As aptly stated by assistant health secretary Dr. Howard Koh: “Flavored cigarettes attract and allure kids into lifetime addiction. FDA’s ban on these cigarettes will break that cycle for the more than 3,600 young people who start smoking daily.”

With Congress wading through a contentious health care debate, let’s not forget that one of the goals should be to contain skyrocketing medical costs. One of the best ways to contain health care costs is through preventive measures that can help individuals avoid serious medical problems down the road.

Removing a temptation to take up smoking, as the FDA has done with its ban, is a fine example of how prevention can be achieved.

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Discussion: comments so far…

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By fremmasmind

Sept. 25, 2009

5:19 a.m.

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It has been one year and seven months since I had a cigarette. I am still kicking all the bad crap form my body but I'm feeling good about my new self. The tobacco industry puts in over 400 ingredients into a cigarette. From making the butt burn faster to of course making it addictive there is not one ingrediant in there that is healthy for any human being. Their warning label says it all, and the FDA still allows them to be sold on the market.
"The handgun you have just purchased could be hazardous to your health if barrel is pointed at your temple and..."

Prevention is not needed if they would be taken off the market.
By gunowners4obama

Sept. 25, 2009

6:19 a.m.

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I have been a smoker for many years. I didn't start with sweet smokes. Nobody I've ever known in my entire life ever started with sweet smokes. I have enjoyed them very occasionally, over the years, though. This ban is government run amok, out of control. I have never once seen a kid pine for clove cigarettes or anything of the sort, never seen a kid smoking one. Never, anywhere, over decades, not once. This sort of garbage is why we have a large opposition to a good president, and a low-quality daily newspaper that still beats out this one.
By casinokid

Sept. 25, 2009

8:28 a.m.

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I remember buying candy cigarettes you know the confection one's so we as kids could emulate our parents and remember the the gum based one's that had paper around them so you could blow and a puff of white powdered sugar would come out the other end.
Afew years later I was smoking the real one's, yes I do think that that industry does target kids!
Fremmasmind Congrat's on quiting I've been quit know for twelve years best thing I ever did. Just keep telling yourself that you are in control and not the cigarettes.
By KillerB

Sept. 25, 2009

10:16 a.m.

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"Adults with evil intent know that one of the best ways to lure a child is with sweets."

"Removing a temptation to take up smoking, as the FDA has done with its ban, is a fine example of how prevention can be achieved."

Sun, you're too full of yourself to look beyond your own headlines.

It can be argued tobacco use built much of this country's economic foundation. Despite tobacco advertising being banned in the popular media since the 60s, despite the plain warning on tobacco products, despite the many laws passed which turn merchants into criminals for selling any of these products to minors, despite the many more laws prohibiting free sale of tobacco to adults across state lines, despite the billions the states extorted from the tobacco producers, people -- including "children" -- continue to use tobacco.

There are reasons for use that lawmakers, regulators and their cheerleaders don't seen to be willing to address. Among those may just be individuals asserting their freedoms despite stupid laws.

That the Nanny State has embraced the Smoke Nazis says more about the nature of our governments' power than it does about individuals' choices.

casinokid -- I remember those candy cigarettes, too. I've never had the desire for a cigarette, ever.
By casinokid

Sept. 25, 2009

3:25 p.m.

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All children being targeted don't become victoms either.
The younger you are the more likely you will follow.