Presenters:

• Laura Brossart, Washington University in St. Louis
• Carol O. McGruder, The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council
• Kendall Stagg, JD, Chicago Department of Public Health

This two part webinar was full of information about innovation happening at the POS. In the first section Laura Brossart provided an overview of the newly released POS Strategies Tobacco Control Guide. The guide contained extensive ‘How To’ information about POS policies, case studies and many resources.

In the second part, Carol McGruder of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and Kendall Stagg of the Chicago Department of Health shared the background stories of how the City of Chicago engaged and educated communities that are disproportionately impacted by menthol cigarettes.

Regulation of menthol-flavored cigarettes is not only a critical public health issue — it is a social justice issue. The Tobacco Industry has a well-documented history of developing and marketing menthol-flavored brands to racial and ethnic minorities and youth. The City of Chicago recently passed an ordinance to restrict access to all flavored tobacco products (including menthol-flavored cigarettes) near schools. This historic legislation has reinvigorated the national dialogue on the regulation of menthol and is inspiring other cities to do more to protect the health of inner city children.  No other jurisdiction at any level of government — federal, state, or local — has ever included menthol in the laws that regulate flavored tobacco products.

The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speaker, and do not reflect CDC’s official position or guidance.