The UK is “sleepwalking to prohibition” says Forest.

 

The smokers' group says awareness of the ban on menthol cigarettes, to be introduced on 20th May 2020, is "minimal".

 

The group believes the ban could lead to the prohibition of other products that are currently legal but are said to be attractive to young people, including sweets and sugary drinks.

 

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: “Britain is sleepwalking to prohibition. 

 

 

Forest has accused the government of doing little to inform the public about the ban.

 

“Awareness of the ban is minimal. In twelve months over one million smokers will walk into their local store and find that a product they’ve been buying for years if not decades is no longer available.

 

“Some will switch to non-flavoured cigarettes, others may switch to menthol vapes and some may quit nicotine completely, but many will turn to the black market where criminals will be happy to meet the demand for illicit menthol fags."

 

Forest wants the government to reverse the ban on menthol cigarettes after Britain leaves the European Union. According to Clark: