By Caitlin Chamberlain
On June 22, 2009 President Obama signed H.R. 1256: “The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” into law. Under the law, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate tobacco products.
As a result of this ruling all flavored cigarettes, with the exception of menthol, will be banned. According to the Govtrack, H.R. 1256 will also require tobacco companies to place larger and more factual health warning labels on their products.
They must also submit any new research findings about the health effects of tobacco. Terms such as “light” and “low tar” will also be banned, as these terms suggest such cigarettes are safer.
Though the FDA has authority to regulate the amount of harmful additives and nicotine levels in tobacco products, they are prohibited from requiring tobacco companies from completely eliminating nicotine altogether.
The FDA also cannot place a ban on already existing tobacco products. Many aspects of the bill are not set to take place until 12 to 15 months after the bill was initially signed into law.
On Sept. 22, the ban on selling flavored cigarettes went into effect. Any cigarette given a candy, fruit, herb or spice flavoring is now officially banned from being manufactured or sold.
Supporters of H.R. 1256 believe that the various flavors of cigarettes make smoking seem more appealing to minors and hope that this ban will deter them from smoking.
Opponents of the bill feel differently, often arguing that it will not stop minors from smoking and that it disenfranchises adult smokers who enjoy flavored cigarettes.
On any given morning outside of Arnold Hall, smokers congregate outside the building before class or on a break, partaking in a cigarette and conversation before heading inside. Reactions concerning the new law were mostly negative; although a few thought anything that could help young adults from developing the habit would be a step in the right direction.
“I have smoked since I was a sophomore in high school and have been trying to quit, but unsuccessfully. If there is a law to help prevent kids from smoking, I’m all for it because I don’t wish cigarette addiction on anyone,” third year graphic design student Laura Casey said.
“Why should the government get to decide which cigarettes are going to be be illegal and which ones are OK to smoke? This law doesn’t make much sense. It’s just another attack on smokers’ rights,” fourth year architecture major Brian Kelly said.
First year graduate student Kara Jennings agreed, adding, “Where does the line get drawn? I don’t need ‘Big Brother’ to tell me smoking is wrong, I know it is but so are a lot of other things out there like drinking beer and eating fast food. We’re not seeing regulations about the additives in anything else but cigarettes. I doubt this law will discourage smoking on a grand scale.”
