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LETTER: State, feds must go farther on tobacco 

I am writing to thank The Sun for the excellent editorial "Addicted at an Early Age" (Sept. 24) and to clarify a few points. First, while it is a good move for public health for the Food and Drug Administration to ban flavored cigarettes, The Sun is correct to point out that this ban does not include the extremely popular cheap cigars that come in a variety of enticing flavors and are available by the single for less than $1. Nor does the ban include smokeless tobacco products that also come in fruity flavors attractive to kids. Although Congress did not issue such a mandate for cigars and smokeless tobacco, the FDA should swiftly exercise its regulatory power to extend the flavored ban to cigars and smokeless tobacco. . . .

And as I express my support for the city bill, I also promise to re-introduce the cigar minimum packaging bill in the General Assembly in 2010 so that we can impose this common sense public health measure across the state. Our children's health is worth at least that much!

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