In the midst of a pandemic that has jeopardized small businesses across the country, more than 40 tobacco retailers in Milwaukee risked a loss of sales by not selling menthol tobacco products Sunday, May 17, as part of “No Menthol Sunday.”
“No Menthol Sunday,” was a national day of observance led by the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network and supported locally by the Wisconsin African-American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN), an interfaith and community-led effort to raise awareness about the impact of tobacco use on communities of color.
Retailers, who have also supported the WAATPN’s “No Singles/No Loosies” campaign to end the sale of single cigarettes in Milwaukee, jumped on board to this effort to raise awareness on tobacco’s impact on health by posting signs in their storefronts warning residents about COVID-19 related dangers for smokers and providing info on where they can access free help to quit, in addition to not selling tobacco last Sunday.
Menthol, a product used by 9 of 10 African American adult smokers in Wisconsin, is a peppermint flavored anesthetic tobacco companies added to reduce the harshness of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The WAATPN has led local efforts to spread awareness about menthol and other tobacco products and have taken the unique approach of engaging tobacco retailers to help share that message.
