Lung Association Applauds the City of Evanston for Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products

This evening, the Evanston City Council passed an ordinance to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, in the city of Evanston. The American Lung Association’s Illinois Director of Advocacy, Kristina Hamilton issued this statement in support: 

“We thank members of the Evanston City Council for taking bold action against the youth e-cigarette crisis by prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco products. The Lung Association has long advocated for the removal of all flavored tobacco products, including mint and menthol, as flavors have been shown to initiate kids to tobacco use, and a lifetime of addiction and tobacco-related death and disease. In fact, nearly 17 percent of Illinois high school students use e-cigarettes.

“For decades, the tobacco industry has used targeted, predatory marketing to addict historically underrepresented groups, particularly the Black community, to their deadly products. Passage of this ordinance will not only protect kids, but it will also advance health equity in Evanston communities.”