A recent study conducted by University College London has highlighted that despite the UK’s ban on menthol-flavoured cigarettes since May 2020, approximately one million adults, or 14% to 16% of smokers, continue to use them. The ban was introduced with the intention of deterring young people from smoking, citing the smoother taste and ease of inhalation of menthol cigarettes as factors that could appeal to new smokers. However, the legislation failed to extend to the banning of menthol or its derivatives as ingredients within cigarettes and related products, allowing smokers to legally circumvent the ban through alternatives like menthol-flavoured drops and filter balls.

These findings have prompted calls from senior author Professor Jamie Brown and Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Policy, Dr. Ian Walker, for a more comprehensive prohibition that includes all menthol derivatives in tobacco products. They argue this step is crucial to close loopholes that the tobacco industry could exploit, thus aligning with the government’s initiatives to curb smoking, especially among the youth.

In an unrelated but relevant development, Coleen Nolan, a well-known singer and presenter, has shared her personal journey to quit smoking after a daunting health scare involving an acute chest infection that left her struggling to breathe. Nolan’s decision to quit after 40 years of smoking has led her to advocate for smoking cessation, especially urging others to quit on No Smoking Day. She has joined forces with health charities and the government to support England’s 5.3 million smokers in their efforts to quit, highlighting the severe health risks associated with the habit as emphasized by England’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty.

These events underscore ongoing efforts and challenges in the fight against smoking in the UK, focusing on legislative measures, personal health battles, and public health campaigns aimed at reducing smoking rates and preventing associated health risks.