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Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation Urges Minnesota to Follow Massachusetts’s Lead on Flavored Tobacco

Prohibiting Flavored Tobacco Sales Will Combat Youth Nicotine Epidemic

MINNEAPOLIS (11/27/19) – Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation today urged Minnesota lawmakers to follow the lead of Massachusetts and prohibit flavored tobacco sales in the state. The Massachusetts measure earned overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law today by Republican Governor Charlie Baker.

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation, a coalition of more than 60 organizations that share a common goal of reducing youth smoking and ending tobacco’s harm for good, supports the prohibition of all flavored tobacco products because flavored tobacco products appeal to kids and are driving the youth nicotine epidemic. In particular, menthol tobacco products have been marketed toward African Americans, LGBTQ, youth and other priority populations. As part of a comprehensive policy approach, the coalition also urged Minnesota to join Massachusetts and the 17 other states that have passed Tobacco 21 policies.

“Our kids are facing a nicotine epidemic and states must take the lead in protecting them from lifetime addiction,” said Molly Moilanen, Vice President at ClearWay Minnesota^SM and Co-Chair of Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation. “Minnesota has long been a leader in putting our health ahead of tobacco industry profits – and now is our time to lead again in combating this health crisis. Clearing Minnesota’s shelves of flavored tobacco products and raising the tobacco age to 21 are important steps to reverse the youth tobacco crisis and reduce addiction.”

In the absence of federal action, states across the nation are looking for ways to combat youth nicotine use. In September, President Trump announced the federal government would clear the market of all flavored e-cigarettes but now seems to be walking back that promise. In a meeting last Friday with health leaders and the tobacco industry, the President signaled that states should lead on prevention policies.

Tobacco use puts youth at risk for health problems and a lifetime of addiction. Unfortunately, the tobacco industry continues to lure kids into addiction through easy access, kid-friendly flavors and aggressive marketing. The 2019 Minnesota Student Survey found that 26 percent of Minnesota 11^th-graders reported using an e-cigarette in the past month. Eleven percent of 8^th-graders said they use e-cigarettes regularly, which is nearly double the 2016 rate.

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation encourages local and state lawmakers to pass policies that prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, without exemptions. Ending the sale of all flavored products will address tobacco addiction among youth and priority populations. In Minnesota, ten communities restrict where all flavored tobacco products can be sold, four of which prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products altogether.

Raising the tobacco age to 21 statewide will also reduce tobacco use and save lives. Yesterday, Cook County became the 55^th Minnesota community to raise their tobacco age to 21. Tobacco 21 now covers nearly 40 percent of the state population.

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation encourages lawmakers to take a multi-layered approach to the youth nicotine addiction crisis and pass bold policy measures to counter Big Tobacco’s aggressive marketing toward our kids. In the 2020 Session, Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation will advocate for a statewide Tobacco 21 policy, prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco products, investing in youth prevention and increasing tobacco prices.

“Minnesota kids can’t wait on the federal government to reverse this epidemic,” Moilanen added. “Let’s pass Tobacco 21, prohibit flavored tobacco products and invest in youth prevention to show Minnesota is serious about the health of our kids.”

More info: Flavored Tobacco fact sheet

Key Facts:

Youth Flavored Tobacco Use – Stats from FDA industry guidance, 2016-2017 PATH study:

• 97 percent of current youth e-cigarette users had used a flavored e-cigarette in the past month.
• 70 percent say they use e-cigarettes “because they come in flavors I like.”

Youth Menthol Tobacco Use:

• Seventy-one percent of African American youth smokers (ages 12 to 17) smoke menthol tobacco products. Source: Changes in the prevalence and correlates of menthol cigarette use in the USA, 2004-2014.
• Nationally, 64 percent of high school e-cigarette users use menthol or mint flavors. Source: 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (preliminary data).
• In Minnesota, over a third (34.1 percent) of teen smokers smoke menthol cigarettes. Source: Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey 2017.
  • Meanwhile, 27.5 percent of adult smokers in Minnesota report smoking menthol cigarettes. Source: Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey 2018.

Findings from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey:

• Percent of students who vaped e-cigarettes in past 30 days
  • Grade 8: 11 percent (95 percent increase from 2016-2019)
  • Grade 9: 16 percent (75 percent increase from 2016-2019)
  • Grade 11: 26 percent (54 percent increase from 2016-2019)

The 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey had more detailed questions on tobacco use, and found: 

• 67 percent: of Minnesota high-school tobacco users and nearly 60 percent of middle-school tobacco users reported using flavored products.
• Almost 40 percent: of Minnesota high-school students have tried e-cigarettes, which come in kid-friendly flavors like gummy bear and cotton candy.

About Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is a coalition of more than 60 organizations that share a common goal of saving Minnesota youth from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco. The coalition supports policies that reduce youth smoking and nicotine addiction, including increasing tobacco prices, raising the tobacco sale age to 21, limiting access to candy-, fruit- and menthol-flavored tobacco, and funding tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

Partners include: A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation, A Healthier Southwest, African American Leadership Forum, Allina Health, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Apple Tree Dental, Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota, Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Corporation, Becker County Energize, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Cancer Legal Care, CentraCare Health, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota^SM,  Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio – CLUES, Dodge County Public Health, Education Minnesota, Essentia Health, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Hennepin Healthcare, Hope Dental Clinic, Horizon Public Health, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, ISAIAH, JustUs Health, LAAMPP Alumni, Lake Region Healthcare, Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, March of Dimes, Mayo Clinic, Medica, Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Services, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Minnesota Public Health Association, MN Association of Community Health Centers, MN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc., NAMI Minnesota, North Memorial Health Care, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Olmsted Medical Center, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Perham Health, Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, Shift MN, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Steele County Public Health, Tobacco Free Alliance, Twin Cities Medical Society, UCare, Vision In Living Life “Change is Possible”,  WellShare International and Zumbro Valley Medical Society. Find out more at: smokefreegenmn.org.