Coalition Meets With OMB To Urge Dropping Menthol Prohibition

Earlier today, Americans for Tax Reform, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, the R St Institute, and the National Taxpayers Union concluded a joint meeting with The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, a Division of the President’s Office of Management and Budget to express deep concerns about the Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to ban menthol cigarettes. The proposed ban is opposed by a coalition from all sides of politics, including taxpayer groups, consumer organizations, public health experts, civil liberty advocates, and social justice organizations…

“Abstinence-only approaches do not work at a population level for any type of risky behavior. Where menthol prohibition has been tried, in Canada, California, and Massachusetts the evidence clearly shows it failed to reduce smoking rates. Policies that try to restrict behaviors via prohibition and criminalization are always followed by various unintended negative consequences.” – Dr Jeffrey S. Smith, Senior Fellow, Harm Reduction, R Street Institute

According to the Center for Disease Control’s National Youth Tobacco Survey fewer than 0.6% of students smoked menthol cigarettes, and independent analysis has shown it is likely to cost the federal government $1.9 billion and state governments a total of $4.7 billion in lost tax revenues.