MENTHOL cigarettes are banned in the UK from tomorrow — but one in four who smoke them have no idea.
A survey suggests around 330,000 of the UK’s 1.3million menthol smokers are in for a shock next time they try to buy a pack.
The EU imposed the ban amid concerns that menthol cigarettes are popular with youngsters who mistakenly think they are less harmful.
Experts say it is a myth that menthol are “lighter on the throat”.
Research for tobacco firm Philip Morris found a third of those hit by the ban will switch to menthol-flavoured vapes, which are still available.
Around 220,000 smokers say they will give up.
The move is considered the biggest shake up to smoking since the introduction of e-cigarettes.
Philip Morris’s Peter Nixon said: “Quitting is best but if that’s not possible, then menthol heating tobacco is better than continuing to smoke.”
Populus in May interviewed 509 UK adults who smoke at least three cigarettes a day on average and who use menthol tobacco products either regularly or occasionally.
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