Photo compliments of BBC News.

A Havard University team believes that menthol is added to cigarettes to make the tobacco smoke less harsh, which gives new smokers more nicotine. Apparently, U.S. firms led tests to determine which age groups found menthol more appealing than regular cigarettes.

A “leading tobacco firm” denied these accusations that tobacco firms are product targeting, however, anti-smoking groups are not buying it. However, they have confirmed this menthol product targeting has not yet occurred in the UK.

A study, which consisted of a survey of U.S. smokers in 2006 found that significantly more teenagers and young adults preferred menthol cigarettes over non-menthols. 43.8% of smokers between 12 and 17 years of age and 35.6% of smokers between the ages of 18 and 24 year all reported smoking menthol cigarettes. This study was published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2006.

According to Professor Howard Koh of Harvard University, “For decades, the tobacco industry has carefully manipulated menthol content not only to lure youth but also to lock in lifelong adult customers” (BBC News).

A spokesman for Phillip Morris USA, the manufacturer of Marlboro cigarettes, denied these accusations. He is quoted saying, “We disagree with the authors’ conclusion that menthol levels in our products were manipulated to gain market share among adolescents - and are unable to find evidence supporting that conclusion within the study. The company’s various brands, including our menthol brands, are designed to meet the diverse taste preferences of adults who smoke.”

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