Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb hinted Tuesday at a crackdown on flavored cigars, saying that they are a “big problem” because of rampant use among minors.
“We are looking at it very carefully and I think you can expect us to look at pursuing action in that,” Gottlieb said at a Washington Post.
He did not specify what action the agency would take, but the FDA is engaged in a broader crackdown on menthol cigarettes and e-cigarette use among minors.
“The biggest segment of use among black teens is cigars,” Gottlieb said. “The flavored cigars are a big problem.”
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the FDA is planning to take the first step toward banning menthol cigarettes by requesting public feedback on a ban.
Gottlieb said that about 52 percent of all kids between 12 and 17 who begin smoking use menthols.
“Menthol masks some of the distasteful aspects of using tobacco,” he said.
The agency is also exploring a ban on e-cigarettes sold in convenience stores, where many minors access cigarettes.
Gottlieb said that he doesn’t want to discourage adults from transitioning from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, which he agrees are safer. But the rampant use among minors has caused the agency to act.
“We are going to have to create some speed bumps that will make it harder for adults to get products they want,” he said.
[Opinion: E-cigarette flavors are good for public health. Why is the FDA cracking down on them?]
