The Flavored Cigarette Factsheet, Annotated!

• In 2004, 22.8% of 17-year-old smokers reported using flavored cigarettes over the past month, as compared to 6.7% of smokers over the age of 25.

Could it be that inexperienced smokers are more likely to experiment?  What happens when a lack of choices are in the marketplace?  Will the lack of flavored tobacco products result in fewer smokers, or will they simply stick with unflavored varieties?

• A poll conducted in March 2008 found that one in five youngsters between the ages of 12 and 17 had seen flavored tobacco products or ads, while only one in 10 adults reported having seen them.

A poll.  Clearly this is reliable scientific data.  Could it be that adults are different than children and adolescents?  Could it be that adults have learned to ignore advertising?

• According to one study of youth smokers between the ages of 13 and 18, 52% of smokers who had heard of flavored cigarettes reported interest in trying them, and nearly 60% thought that flavored cigarettes would taste better than regular cigarettes.

Another survey!  This survey conveniently neglected to poll adults so using it as a basis for banning flavored cigarettes as a gateway to youth smoking is without merit.  The results of this survey also suggests flavored cigarettes are not a concern.  Only 20% of youth smokers had tried flavored cigarettes.  It also suggests that methol cigarettes are a bigger menace as 37% of youth smokers not only have tried a flavored cigarette but usually smokel menthols!

• Studies of youth expectations around other flavored tobacco products like bidis and hookahs have found that young smokers report choosing flavored products over cigarettes because they “taste better” and are perceived to be “safer.”
  

 This is misleading as the whole point of banning flavored cigarettes is banning flavored cigarettes.  The two cited studies refer specifically to hookah, a waterpipe, and bidis, a thinner cigarette wrapped in a tendu leaf.  It's clear why smokers would think those are safer. 

• Industry documents reveal clear patterns of designing flavored cigarettes to target youth.

[citation needed]

• Advisors to one company developed concepts for a “youth cigarette,” including cola and apple flavors, and a “sweet flavor cigarette,” stating, “It’s a well-known fact that teenagers like sweet products. Honey might be considered.”

And children love dinosaurs!

• A memo from another company instructed workers to “make a cigarette which is obviously youth oriented. This could involve cigarette name, blend, flavor and marketing technique....for example, a flavor which would be candy-like but give the satisfaction of a cigarette.”

Ahh, 1974.  Back before there were major restrictions on tobacco advertising.  Clearly, nothing has changed in 35 years.

• Other internal documents describe sweetened products as “…for younger people, beginner cigarette smokers, teenagers . . . when you feel like a light smoke, want to be reminded of bubblegum.”

Not only does this point exhibit selective quoting, the reference document does not exist at the URL given in the PDF.

• All tobacco products, including flavored tobacco products are as addictive and carry the same health risks as regular tobacco products.
• An estimated 443,000 Americans die prematurely each year due to smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.
• More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined.
• Cigarette smoking causes many types of cancer, as well as heart disease and chronic lung diseases like emphysema. Smokeless tobacco products cause gum disease and cancers of the mouth. 

Since all tobacco products are equally evil, let's treat all tobacco products the same.  If you're going to ban Djarum, you must ban Marlboro.