Sen. Hoylman + Advocates to Rally for NY Menthol Ban in Front of Philip Morris HQ

NEW YORK, NY (01/26/2020) (readMedia)-- Today, Sen. Hoylman and members of the Flavors Hooks Kids NYC coalition, including the NAACP and kids, will rally in front of Philip Morris demanding New York protect communities of color and restrict the sale of menthol cigarettes. Philip Morris, which makes flavored tobacco products, has made billions of dollars from the addiction of youth and communities of color.

Intro 1345 -- legislation that will restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, in New York City -- has support of more than two-thirds of New York City Council Members, but still awaits action in the Council. Senator Hoylman and Assemblywoman Bichotte have a similar bill pending in Albany.

Menthol, which is an organic flavoring compound made from mint, masks the harsh taste of tobacco flavor, making it easier to start smoking and harder to quit. Big Tobacco has aggressively marketed flavored tobacco products to young people for decades to hook new generations of smokers-particularly in communities of color, where menthol cigarettes are marketed more aggressively and sold at lower prices, creating disproportionately negative health outcomes for African Americans.

WHO:

Sen. Hoylman

André M. Richardson, Campaign Manager of Flavors Hook Kids NYC

NAACP members

Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes (PAVe)

Kids

**LIST IN FORMATION**

WHAT:

Sen. Hoylman and members of the Flavors Hooks Kids NYC coalition, including the NAACP and kids, will rally in front of Philip Morris demanding New York protect communities of color and restrict the sale of menthol cigarettes.

WHEN: Sunday January 26, 2020 at 11:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: In front of Philip Morris International
120 Park Avenue
Manhattan, New York
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