ACS CAN Disappointed in Albany County Legislature Defeat of Flavored Tobacco Bill

ALBANY, NY –November 12, 2019 – Despite support from over 40 organizations including public health, school-based groups, parents, NAACP and civic groups, the Albany County Legislature failed to pass Local Law E which would have prohibited the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Senior New York Government Relations Director Julie Hart released the following statement:

“The Albany County Legislature has turned its back on the health of the county’s residents. Tobacco companies have a history of preying on kids with flavors.  As a result, over 27% of New York State high school students use e-cigarettes.  In addition, nearly 13% of state residents are still smoking and many were enticed to begin this deadly addiction because of menthol cigarettes.  For decades, menthol has been the ultimate flavor of choice in Big Tobacco’s playbook.

“Menthol makes it easier to start smoking by masking the harshness of tobacco smoke. A wealth of research indicates that African American neighborhoods have a disproportionate number of tobacco retailers and more marketing of menthol products. Sadly, this practice will continue in Albany County.” 

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ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.