NPR: Why Do Black Smokers Seem to Prefer Menthols?

Why Do Black Smokers Seem to Prefer Menthols?

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Are black smokers' preference of mentholated brands like Kool, Salem and Newports a matter of cultural preference, tobacco industry marketing, or some combination thereof?

A researcher at the University of California offers his theory via the New York Times:

"The migration of African-Americans to urban manufacturing centers after World War II, coupled with the emergence of black-oriented newspapers and magazines, created various opportunities for niche marketing. In the case of cigarettes, with research showing a slight black preference for Kools, a menthol brand, the industry saw an opening to appeal to black smokers."

And then there's this: Though magazine advertising for cigarettes has declined, the Times reports "the portion devoted to menthol brands -- only 12 percent in 1998 -- had grown to 76 percent by 2006."

More: Cigarette Bill Treats Menthol With Leniency

Geoffrey Bennett

11:40 AM ET | 05-13-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Does it really matter? Aren't all cigarettes detrimental to a person's health?

Sent by ernise | 2:07 PM ET | 05-14-2008

The point is why are African Americans so susceptible to messages, subliminal or overt that are detrimental to their well-being?

Sent by patreece thompson | 10:42 PM ET | 05-14-2008

Yeah, they're Kool with lung cancer or emphezema.

Sent by Frank Nelson | 7:09 PM ET | 05-16-2008

I started smoking menthol cigarettes, getting them from a (black) girl I knew. I justified continuing to smoke them, thinking they smelled better than the non-mentholated ones.
I had heard that they were worse for you than the regular tobacco cigarettes, but that didn't deter me.
Though I've quit smoking now, I loved the taste.

Sent by Cheryl | 2:22 PM ET | 07-03-2008

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