Lancashire businesses are being reminded that a law banning the sale of menthol cigarettes comes into effect on Wednesday 20 May.
From then onwards, selling menthol flavoured cigarettes and tobacco products will be illegal under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
The Government is introducing the ban as menthol cigarettes are proven to be more attractive to new and young smokers.
This followed research in several countries, which revealed flavoured tobacco products are preferred by children and adolescents, as well as by experimenting smokers.
In Lancashire, the ban is being enforced by the county council’s trading standards team.
County Councillor Albert Atkinson, cabinet member for technical services, rural affairs and waste management, said: “Shopkeepers, supermarkets and other retailers need to take all menthol tobacco products off sale by the close of business on 19 May.
“Removing these menthol flavoured tobacco products from the marketplace is crucial, given the clear evidence that this flavour increases the attractiveness of tobacco products to our children.
“If anyone sees menthol cigarettes for sale, they should contact our Trading Standards team, which is enforcing the ban.”
For further advice and to contact Lancashire County Council’s trading standards team, call the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Most other cigarette and tobacco product flavours were banned with sell-through finishing in May 2017, but the Government allowed 4 year’s exemption for menthol cigarettes and tobacco products.
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