JUUL gets ready for menthol ban with new flavour

US vape brand JUUL has added a new menthol flavour to its portfolio ahead of the ban on menthol cigarettes next month.

Last week the company announced that Menthol JUULpods has been added to a portfolio of flavours which includes Glacier Mint, Mango Nectar, Golden Tobacco and Alpine Berry.

John Patterson, managing director of JUULlabs in the UK said the addition would assist the 1.7 million smokers of menthol or crushball cigarettes to transition away from traditional tobacco products.

“With electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), adult smokers have a choice of flavours and a range of alternative options that may help them transition away from combustible cigarettes. Indeed, JUUL Labs and the ENDS category exist to help end the era of combustible cigarettes,” Patterson said.

The menthol ban on combustible cigarettes arrives on 20 May and has seen a flurry of new tobacco products supported by major brands, with new blends or filter tips designed specifically for menthol smokers. Despite this, many in the vape industry see this as a key opportunity to help smokers quit for good.

Patterson says: “Smoking-related diseases are responsible for almost 96,000 deaths in the UK annually. Smokers should first and foremost try to give up combustible cigarettes – but if they can’t or won’t, it is critically important to provide access to potentially less harmful nicotine products.”

Four-packs of Menthol JUULpods are available now with an RRP of £10.99.

The launch comes after John Dunne, director of vaping industry body UKVIA warned retailers to expect fewer new arrivals on the market during 2020 because of the pressures of coronavirus on supply chains and a focus on core range.