More US states seek bans on flavoured tobacco others call ‘nanny state policies’

The latest salvos in the US war on youth tobacco use come in the form of more bans on flavoured tobacco products, this time in states including Maine and Ohio.

These bans affect e-cigs, menthol cigarettes, and flavoured cigars (except premium cigars) and are marketed as an effort to stop young people from smoking and to protect public health.

According to a 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, youth tobacco use is widespread. More than 2.5m US middle and high school students use e-cigarettes – nearly 85% of whom use flavoured tobacco products.