The House bill gives the FDA significant means of reducing smoking, especially among young users, who become 90 percent of adult smokers. The bill, for instance, would ban discount cigarettes with flavors such as grape. Retailers would have to card young people trying to buy tobacco.
The bill requires bigger and more effective warning labels, and gives the FDA the ability to remove misleading health claims and make industry research public. It also would regulate ingredients such as habit-forming nicotine.
Opponents have a point that the FDA is overwhelmed and in "fire-fighting mode," as its own study has found. But the solution is to fix the FDA, not blind it to smoke.
Regrettable compromises have made the House bill acceptable to other tobacco interests. It exempts flavor-enhancing menthol, used by Philip Morris, which supports the legislation. Nicotine can be reduced, but not banned. Companies selling smokeless tobacco can offer free samples in limited venues, such as auto races. And regulation may – may – end up shielding the industry from lawsuits.



