title: A ban on menthol cigarettes: impact on public opinion and smokers' intention to quit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed support for a ban by the Food and Drug Administration on menthol in cigarettes and behavioral intentions among menthol smokers in the event of such a ban.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 2649 never, former, and current smokers and used ordinal logistic regression to calculate weighted point estimates and predictors of support for a menthol ban among the adult population and menthol smokers only. For menthol smokers, we also calculated weighted point estimates and predictors of behavioral intentions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 28.2% of adults opposed, 20.0% supported, and 51.9% lacked a strong opinion about a menthol ban. Support was highest among Hispanics (36.4%), African Americans (29.0%), never smokers (26.8%), and respondents with less than a high school education (28.8%). Nearly 40% of menthol smokers said they would quit if menthol cigarettes were no longer available, 12.5% would switch to a nonmenthol brand, and 25.2% would both switch and try to quit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support for a menthol ban is strongest among populations with the highest prevalence of menthol cigarette use. A menthol ban might motivate many menthol smokers to quit.
authors.affiliation: The Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Legacy, 1724 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA. jpearson@legacyforhealth.org
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: Raymond S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Niaura
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vallone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D062789:Tobacco Products; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008610:Menthol