Health Commissioner McDonald Joins Tobacco Kills NY to Rally for Flavored Tobacco Ban

ALBANY, NY (03/30/2023) (readMedia)-- On Thursday, in the final days before the State budget is due, NYS Health Commissioner James McDonald will rally with Tobacco Kills NY – a diverse, statewide campaign of civil rights and health advocates, including the NAACP, faith-leaders, public health groups, and others – at the State Capitol in support of Governor Hochul's historic proposal to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.

This week, a new poll out from Siena College found that a significant majority of New Yorkers surveyed were in favor of the proposed ban on menthol-flavored tobacco products, with 58% in favor versus 34% against. Black and Latino New Yorkers also support a ban on flavored tobacco by a 2-1 margin.

New York State made great strides to prevent youth tobacco use by restricting the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in 2020–but the new regulations still allowed other dangerous flavored tobacco products known to increase addiction to continue to be sold. Menthol cigarettes, which are much easier to smoke and more addictive than regular tobacco, are still available on shelves and the number one way Big Tobacco hooks young smokers and keeps Black New Yorkers addicted.