Use of flavoured tobacco products like shisha, cigarillos and pipe tobacco is increasing among young adult smokers, according to a study by the Legacy anti-smoking organization that recommends expanding the US ban on flavours.

“The tobacco industry is using the same marketing tactics on new products to lure new and young people to their products. We hope this research showing that it is working – and young people are using these products at high rates – will signal the FDA to extend the flavor ban beyond cigarettes, and to also include menthol flavored products in that ban” said Cheryl Healton, Legacy’s president and chief executive officer.
Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the study includes a survey that shows use of flavoured tobacco products in the 18-34 age group rose to 18.5 per cent in 2011, compared with 11.9 per cent using flavoured cigarettes in a 2005 study.
“While most candy-flavours – such as chocolate, vanilla and peach – were banned in 2009 from cigarettes, flavoured tobacco products like cigars, hookah, snus and e-cigarettes persist in more than 45 flavours and are still legally on the market,” said Legacy Research Investigator Andrea Villanti. “These products can be just as appealing to young people as flavoured cigarettes, offering a product appearing to be more like candy to those most at-risk of becoming lifelong tobacco users,” she added.
Legacy was created to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco under terms of the 1999 Master Settlement Agreement between tobacco companies and US states. (ci)