Flavored tobacco products and additives: a motion tabled in Switzerland

In Switzerland, on June 16, 2020, a motion was tabled by Benjamin Roduit, a National Councilor from Valais. He asked the Federal Council to ban flavored tobacco in Switzerland.

Various tobacco products concerned

Specifically, he calls for a ban on all tobacco containing flavoring, as well as "additives to tobacco products and e-cigarettes that increase the potential for addiction or toxicity." The motion therefore concerns mint cigarettes, "click" cigarettes, and flavored hookah tobacco.

Concealed damage

According to Benjamin Roduit, "tobacco manufacturers deliberately add substances to their products. These make tobacco smoke more easily tolerated and increase the addictive effect." Furthermore, "because of the aroma that 'numbs' the throat and makes the smoke smoother, the smoker is much less aware of the damage he or she is causing to his or her body. The cooling effect of menthol, for example, means that smokers of menthol cigarettes tend to inhale more deeply." This measure, he said, is intended to protect children and adolescents. He also pointed out that menthol cigarettes, as well as other smoking tobacco products containing a characterizing aroma, have been banned since May 20, 2020 in the states of the European Union, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

A policy deemed contradictory

"Switzerland invests a lot of money in tobacco prevention, but at the same time allows additives that encourage smoking." This dual observation concerns Benjamin Roduit, who considers it counterproductive.

News not well received by hookah bar owners

Hookah bars, of course, are taking the motion very seriously. It raises concerns that their establishments will be closed and many people will be put out of work. Adem Corca, director of the Binzgarten Shisha Lounge in Zurich, believes that "hookah smoking is not an addiction, but a cultural thing that brings people together." However, according to Tox Info Suisse, "Smoking hookah for 45 to 60 minutes is the equivalent of smoking about 100 cigarettes."

©Generation Without Tobacco

[i] "Ban on the sale of menthol: what you need to know" https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/interdiction-de-vente-du-menthol-ce-quil-faut-retenir/

[i] “Misconception: hookah is less toxic than cigarettes” https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/idee-recue-la-chicha-serait-moins-toxique-que-la-cigarette/

[i] "At the heart of the cigarette manufacturers' strategy: menthol" https://www.generationsanstabac.org/article/strategie-cigarettiers-menthol-interdiction-mai-2020/

“The cooling effect encourages deeper inhalation,” www.20min.ch, June 18, 2020 https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/leffet-refroidissant-incite-a-inhaler-plus-profondement-660741540349

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