Biden abandons menthol cigarette ban over worries it could anger black voters

The Biden administration has decided to postpone its plan to push for a ban on menthol cigarettes after concerns that such a move could alienate black voters ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the administration decided on Friday that it would delay its decision on implementing the ban to allow for further consultation with external groups. However, no specific timeline has been provided for when the decision will be revisited.

Menthol cigarettes constitute over one-third of all cigarette sales in the United States, with a significant portion of users being black Americans. In 2020, 81 percent of black smokers reported using menthols, compared to 30 percent of white smokers and 51 percent of Hispanic smokers, as per WSJ data analysis.

In the past, many black leaders have criticized the targeting of menthol cigarettes, arguing that it is part of a racially motivated effort to ban a product predominantly consumed by black individuals.

The Biden administration has been discussing the possibility of banning menthol cigarettes since 2021, claiming that such a measure could reduce youth initiation into smoking and help smokers in their efforts to quit.

Susan Rice, the former domestic policy adviser for the President, said in an opinion article last year that by delaying the plans to ban menthols, the administration is putting “more Black lives at risk.”

Former director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, Mitch Zeller, echoed this sentiment, stating that “the science is clear that there will be a massive health benefit from removing menthol cigarettes.” Zeller stated that the decision to move away from such a ban by the Biden administration is due to political considerations. 

The observation that this decision is politically motivated comes at a time when President Biden’s popularity among black voters has been declining. According to a recent WSJ poll, Biden is significantly underperforming among black voters, particularly black men, compared to previous Democratic candidates. Only 68 percent of black voters expressed support for him this year, a considerable drop from the 91 percent he garnered in 2020.