Help & Guidance

What Countries Still Sell Menthol Cigarettes?

Banned in the UK, EU, Canada and Brazil, but still sold in the US federally, Japan, China, Russia and much of Asia, Africa and South America.

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Menthol cigarettes were banned in the UK and across the EU in May 2020, so a common question is which countries still sell them. The short answer is that they remain on sale in many parts of the world, including the United States at federal level, Japan, China, Russia and much of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. This guide explains, alongside our guide on the UK rules.

Where they are banned

Menthol cigarettes are banned in a growing number of places. The UK banned them in May 2020, as did the entire EU under the same tobacco rules, and that ban remains in place in the UK after leaving the EU. Canada banned them nationwide, and Brazil has banned flavoured tobacco including menthol. In these places, menthol cigarettes cannot legally be sold.

Menthol cigarettes by region

Place	Status
UK	Banned since May 2020
EU	Banned (all member states)
Canada	Banned nationwide
Brazil	Banned (flavoured tobacco)
United States	Still sold federally; ban proposed, not implemented

Where they are still sold

In much of the world, menthol cigarettes are still on sale. In the United States they remain legal at federal level, though a national ban has been proposed but not implemented, and some states and cities have their own bans. They are also still sold in Japan, China, Russia, and across much of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and most of South America. Rules differ by country and can change.

Menthol cigarettes are banned in the UK, EU, Canada and Brazil, but still sold in much of the world, including the US federally, Japan, China, Russia and much of Asia, Africa and South America.

Myths and facts

Myth	The reality
Menthol cigarettes are banned everywhere	No, they remain on sale in many countries, just not the UK or EU.
The US has banned menthol cigarettes	A national ban has been proposed but not implemented; they remain legal federally.
The UK ban ended after Brexit	No, the UK menthol ban from May 2020 remains in place.
Menthol cigarettes are less harmful	No, they are harmful like other cigarettes; the ban is about reducing smoking.

Frequently asked questions

What countries still sell menthol cigarettes?

Many, including the United States at federal level, Japan, China, Russia, and much of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and most of South America.

Are they banned in the UK?

Yes, menthol cigarettes have been banned in the UK since May 2020, and the ban remains in place.

Does the US allow menthol cigarettes?

At federal level, yes; a national ban has been proposed but not implemented, though some states and cities have their own bans.

Which other places ban them?

The EU, Canada and Brazil, among others, with more places considering bans.

Are menthol cigarettes safer?

No, they are harmful like other cigarettes; bans aim to reduce smoking, not because menthol is safe.

The bottom line

Menthol cigarettes are banned in the UK, the EU, Canada and Brazil, but they are still sold in many parts of the world, including the United States at federal level, where a national ban has been proposed but not implemented, as well as Japan, China, Russia, and much of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and most of South America. Laws differ widely by country and can change, so always check the current local rules. Menthol cigarettes are harmful like other cigarettes, and the bans aim to reduce smoking.

More help and related reading

If this guide raised other questions, the Help and Guidance library has plain English answers to many more. The closely related pages below are worth a look, and you can always return to the main hub to browse every topic we cover. If you are unsure about a product or rule, our team and the official guidance are the best places to check.

• Legal age for vaping in the UK
• How much is tobacco in France?
• How much tobacco can you bring back to the UK?
• Browse the full Help and Guidance library

Key things to remember

• Banned in the UK, EU, Canada and Brazil
• Still sold in the US federally
• Still sold in Japan, China and Russia
• And much of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America
• Laws differ by country and can change

Why the rules differ so much

The patchwork of rules reflects different public health priorities and different stages of tobacco regulation around the world. Places that have banned menthol, like the UK, EU and Canada, did so to help reduce smoking, particularly among younger people, since menthol can make cigarettes easier to start and harder to quit. Elsewhere, bans have been proposed, debated or simply not pursued.

For travellers, the practical point is that rules vary and can change, so what is on sale abroad may differ from the UK. None of this changes that menthol cigarettes are harmful like any other, and the UK ban remains firmly in place.

Banned versus still sold

Banned	Still sold
UK	United States (federally)
EU	Japan
Canada	China
Brazil	Russia
And others	Much of Asia, Africa, South America

A few more questions

Why did the UK ban menthol cigarettes?

To help reduce smoking, since menthol can make cigarettes easier to start and harder to quit, especially for younger people.

Do and don’t

Do

• Check the current local rules before you travel
• Remember the UK ban remains in place
• Know that menthol cigarettes are still harmful
• Treat this as general, changeable information

Try not to

• Assume the rules are the same everywhere
• Think a US federal ban is already in force
• Believe menthol cigarettes are less harmful
• Rely on this as legal advice

A changing picture

The global picture is not static. More places have been considering or introducing menthol bans over time, and proposals can advance or stall, as the long running debate in the United States shows. So a country that sells menthol cigarettes today may restrict them in future, and vice versa, which is why checking the current local rules matters.

For UK readers, the key point is simple and stable, menthol cigarettes have been banned here since May 2020 and remain so. Wherever you are, menthol cigarettes are harmful like any other, and bans are aimed at reducing smoking, not a sign that any cigarette is safe.

Reading the picture

Point	Detail
UK	Banned, stable since May 2020
US	Federally still sold; ban proposed
Trend	More places considering bans
Changeable	Rules can shift over time
Harm	Menthol cigarettes are still harmful

More questions answered

Can I bring menthol cigarettes into the UK?

Personal import allowances and rules apply to tobacco; check the current GOV.UK guidance before travelling, as limits and duty can apply.

Are menthol vapes banned too?

The menthol cigarette ban is about tobacco; menthol flavoured e liquids are sold for adult vapers, subject to UK vaping rules.

A couple more questions

Has the US banned menthol cigarettes yet?

No, a national ban has been proposed but not implemented; they remain legal federally, though some states and cities have bans.

Did the UK ban end after Brexit?

No, the UK menthol cigarette ban from May 2020 remains in place after leaving the EU.

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A quick word on safety and the law

Vaping and nicotine products are intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. They contain nicotine unless stated otherwise, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products in the UK, and we age verify every order. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.

UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.

This guide is general information about rules as they currently stand and is not legal advice. Laws differ by country and can change, so always check the current local rules before you travel or buy.