Where to Find Menthol Cigarettes: Updated Country List for 2025

Where can you buy menthol cigarettes in the world? The question matters more than ever since menthol cigarettes make up about 30% of the total cigarette market in the United States. These products remain popular, especially with African-American smokers who represent 80% of menthol cigarette consumers. Yet they face mounting restrictions worldwide.

The UK and all European Union member states have completely banned menthol cigarettes since May 2020. Countries like Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Moldova have put similar bans in place. The United States still allows menthol cigarettes at the federal level, but states like California and Massachusetts have created their own bans. Major markets like China and Japan sell these products freely. Most African nations, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, let stores stock and sell them without restrictions.

This piece will get into where smokers can still buy menthol cigarettes in 2025. You’ll learn which countries have banned them and why these bans exist. We’ll also look at options for smokers in restricted markets and tackle the social debates around these regulations.

Where Menthol Cigarettes Are Still Legal in 2025

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Menthol cigarettes remain legal in many countries around the world even as regulations get stricter. Smokers can still buy these products without restrictions in several regions in 2025.

United States (federal vs. state laws)

The Trump administration pulled back the proposed menthol cigarette ban in early 2025, which kept these products legal nationwide. This happened after the Biden administration’s final rule to ban menthol cigarettes went to the White House in October 2023 but never got approved.

Menthol cigarettes make up about 30% of America’s cigarette market. Notwithstanding that, some states and cities have put their own rules in place. California and Massachusetts have banned them outright, and many cities have local rules against them.

The rules get complicated because they don’t affect all communities the same way. Studies show 80% of African-American smokers choose menthol cigarettes. On top of that, more than half the kids who smoke pick menthol varieties, which makes this a hot topic.

Japan and East Asia

Japan lets people buy menthol cigarettes and doesn’t plan to follow what the US and Europe are doing. Someone from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said menthol is “not a problem” and “nobody’s talking about it” as an issue.

People in Japan love menthol brands. These cigarettes now make up about 28% of regular cigarette sales, plus another 7% from brands with flavor capsules. That’s way up from the late 2000s when only 20% of cigarettes were menthol. Young adults and women tend to buy these products more often.

Russia and Eastern Europe

Russia takes it easy on menthol cigarettes and isn’t thinking about banning them. The country joined the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2008 but only put some limits on what can go in cigarettes.

Russian rules say no to “mint herb” but give the green light to menthol and spearmint in tobacco products. This pick-and-choose approach to rules has helped tobacco companies like Japan Tobacco International make more money through selling more cigarettes at higher prices.

China and Southeast Asia

China has the world’s biggest tobacco market and sells menthol cigarettes freely. Indonesia does the same thing, and these products are a big hit with younger smokers there.

Southeast Asian countries have pretty relaxed rules about selling menthol cigarettes. This makes them quite different from Western nations that have banned them completely.

Middle East and Gulf countries

Gulf countries don’t mind menthol tobacco much. The UAE says it’s fine to use “menthol and food-grade aromas and flavors” in tobacco. Saudi Arabia lets companies use “fruit flavors, menthol, or a mixture of these” in e-cigarettes, while other flavors aren’t allowed.

These relaxed rules make the Middle East a great place to sell menthol tobacco products, drawing in both buyers and makers as other parts of the world crack down.

Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya

Africa’s menthol cigarette situation is tricky. Research shows some countries have really high numbers – Zambia tops the list with 43% of smokers using menthol (highest among 24 countries), while Kenya comes in at 21%.

The funny thing is many African smokers don’t understand menthol cigarettes well. About 36% of Zambians think menthols aren’t as bad as regular cigarettes. Young smokers believe this even more, with 69% getting it wrong.

Most African countries still sell menthol cigarettes, but Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda have said no to them. One study says if Kenya banned menthols, about 29,000 more smokers might quit.

South America: Argentina, Colombia

Latin America sells flavored cigarettes everywhere – menthol included. Argentina hasn’t put any rules on these products, even though it signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control back in 2003.

Flavored cigarettes have taken off in this part of the world. Peru sees more than half its cigarette sales come from flavored ones. Countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico sell one flavored cigarette for every five regular ones.

People looking to buy menthol cigarettes in 2025 can check out online stores like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/. These sites ship worldwide and help buyers get around local restrictions.

Countries That Have Banned Menthol Cigarettes

The world’s menthol cigarette market has changed dramatically in the last decade. Many countries now completely ban these products. Smokers often ask “where can you buy menthol cigarettes in the world?” Here’s what you need to know about countries that have removed these products from their markets.

UK and all EU member states

Menthol cigarettes became completely banned across all 27 European Union member states and the United Kingdom on May 20, 2020. The European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) banned flavored cigarettes in May 2016. While other flavored cigarettes faced immediate bans, menthol products got a four-year grace period until 2020.

The UK market saw menthol cigarettes make up about 21% of all sales, with roughly 6 billion cigarettes sold yearly in 2018. The UK kept this ban even after leaving the EU in January 2020 because the law was already part of UK legislation.

The results speak for themselves. A study using the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey showed that England’s youth smokers (ages 16-19) who preferred menthol cigarettes dropped from 12% in February 2020 to just 3% by August 2020.

Canada (with First Nations exemptions)

Canada led the way in banning menthol cigarettes. The ban started at provincial level, with Nova Scotia taking the first step in May 2015. All Canadian provinces banned menthol between 2015 and 2018. The federal government sealed the deal with a nationwide ban on October 1, 2017.

Canada’s regulation has a unique twist regarding First Nations reserves. The menthol cigarette bans apply to these reserves, making post-ban menthol purchases there illegal. First Nations people can legally buy tax-exempt cigarettes on reserves for personal use. Sales of tax-exempt cigarettes to non-First Nations individuals remain illegal, though enforcement is lax.

First Nations people make up only 4.9% of Canada’s population (as of 2016), so researchers believe most cigarette purchases on these reserves come from non-First Nations individuals. Studies show that “menthol cigarette bans did not increase the use or purchasing of illicit menthol cigarettes in Canada”.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia has now joined countries that ban menthol cigarettes. The government passed new tobacco laws in late 2023 that “ban ingredients that make tobacco taste better and easier to smoke, including menthol”. The ban starts April 1, 2025, with menthol cigarettes staying available during a transition period until June 30, 2025.

Australia’s ban targets menthol’s role in making smoking more appealing to young people. Professor Becky Freeman from the University of Sydney explains, “Menthol masks the harshness of smoke. Just like cold lollies that contain menthol to soothe sore throats and tame coughs, menthol in cigarettes prevents inexperienced smokers from reacting to the rough effects of tobacco smoke in the throat”.

The ban also stops “crushable menthol capsules” in cigarette filters. These had become popular with teenagers and linked to higher smoking rates among youth.

Turkey and Moldova

Turkey made history by introducing a ban on flavored cigarettes, including menthol, in 2015, fully implementing it by 2020. They banned manufacturing, importing, distributing, and selling these products.

Moldova, despite not being in the EU and having high smoking rates, became the first country to specifically ban menthol cigarettes in July 2015. The United States Chamber of Commerce’s lobbying delayed this groundbreaking law until President Nicolae Timofti signed it. Philip Morris International stepped up its lobbying efforts in Moldova by 2020 to influence tobacco control policies.

Smokers in these countries sometimes use online retailers like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ that ship internationally as a way around these restrictions.

Why Are Menthol Cigarettes Being Banned?

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The growing number of menthol cigarette bans worldwide raises an important question: why are countries restricting these products? Public health officials have several key reasons that explain why many nations no longer allow these products in their markets.

Menthol masks tobacco harshness

Menthol does much more than add flavor to cigarettes. This chemical compound comes from peppermint plants and creates a cooling sensation that changes how smoking feels. People find menthol cigarettes easier to inhale because they feel less harsh.

Menthol’s cooling and pain-killing properties hide tobacco’s unpleasant taste, which makes cigarettes more appealing to new smokers. Tobacco companies add menthol to cigarette filters to cover up the harsh taste and make cigarettes easier to smoke.

These effects create real problems. People who smoke menthol cigarettes smoke more intensely than those who use regular ones. They breathe in deeper, smoke more often, and end up with worse health problems.

Increased addiction potential

Menthol doesn’t just make cigarettes easier to start – it creates a stronger addiction. Research shows that menthol changes nicotine receptors in the brain. This chemical change boosts nicotine’s effects and makes tobacco products more addictive.

Scientists have proven that menthol creates greater nicotine dependence. Their research shows higher levels of nicotinic receptors in menthol smokers’ brains. Menthol works with nicotine to increase these receptors, which creates a stronger dependence on both substances.

Quitting becomes extra tough for menthol cigarette smokers. Studies show they have less success quitting compared to people who smoke regular cigarettes. Black Americans face even bigger challenges when trying to quit, mainly because menthol cigarettes are so common in their communities.

Targeting of youth and minorities

The tobacco industry’s targeted marketing raises serious concerns. Companies have pushed menthol cigarettes toward Black communities and children for over 60 years. Their aggressive tactics included:

• Filling Black neighborhoods with menthol cigarette billboards
• Giving away free cigarettes from street vans
• Heavy advertising in Ebony and Jet magazines
• Supporting events like the Kool Jazz Festival

These marketing strategies worked all too well. About 77% of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, while only 23% of white smokers do. The number goes up to 85% among Black smokers. Young people face high risks – more than half of tobacco users between 12 and 20 years old start with menthol cigarettes.

Marketing now reaches beyond Black communities to target women (44% of women smokers use menthols versus 30% of non-Hispanic white smokers) and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Public health policy goals

Health officials believe banning menthol cigarettes would help many people. Studies suggest overall smoking could drop by 15.1% within 40 years. This decrease could save between 324,000 and 654,000 lives during that time—about 16,250 people each year.

Black communities would see even better results. Research indicates 48% of African Americans who might start smoking menthols wouldn’t start smoking or vaping at all under a ban, compared to 39% of the general population.

Some smokers in countries with bans look for alternatives through online stores like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ that ship internationally. Yet evidence shows that banning menthol tobacco products helps prevent young people from starting and encourages current smokers to quit.

The answer to where can you buy menthol cigarettes in the world? gets shorter as more countries ban these products based on mounting health evidence.

Where Can You Buy Menthol Cigarettes in the World?

Smokers looking for menthol cigarettes in 2025 still have several ways to buy them legally, even with the growing restrictions. Let’s look at the main places where you can still get these products.

Duty-free and international airports

Menthol cigarettes are still easy to find at international airports, even in countries that have banned them. Duty-free shops at these locations often follow special rules that let them sell products banned elsewhere.

Take Washington Dulles International Airport as an example. Their duty-free stores stock many menthol cigarette brands. You can get Camel Menthol Silver King Box and Camel Menthol King Box for $67.00 per carton, while Marlboro Menthol Box costs $65.00 per carton.

Duty-free shops around the world keep large stocks of menthol cigarettes. Many international travelers come to these spots because the prices are lower than regular stores.

The benefits of duty-free shopping go beyond just finding what you want:

• Lower prices because there’s no tax
• Better deals on cartons versus single packs
• More brands than you’d find in regular stores

Keep in mind that customs rules limit how many cigarettes you can bring across borders. Most countries have strict rules about tobacco imports before extra taxes kick in.

Online retailers (e.g., https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/)

Online stores have become a go-to source for menthol cigarettes, especially in countries with bans. Sites like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ ship worldwide, which helps buyers get around local restrictions.

Buying from https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ comes with perks. These sites stock menthol brands you might not find locally. On top of that, home delivery makes life easier for people who can’t travel to countries where these cigarettes are legal.

Popular online tobacco shops mentioned in forums include:

• Smokers’ Outlet Online
• Cigarettes.com
• TobaccoPipes.com

Age verification systems are standard when buying cigarettes online. Trusted sellers check buyers’ ages to follow the law.

Shops in countries without bans

Countries that haven’t banned menthol cigarettes offer the simplest way to buy them. You’ll find these products in convenience stores, gas stations, and tobacco shops.

Canada’s situation with First Nations reserves is unique. The country bans menthol cigarettes everywhere, including reserves, but enforcement isn’t strict. Non-First Nations people still buy tax-free cigarettes there, though it’s technically against the law.

Native American reservations give American smokers access to cheaper menthol cigarettes. Sheeley’s gas station near Palm Springs, California sells menthol cigarettes similar to Kool’s at $7.99 per pack or $59.00 per carton without tax as of April 2025.

Many people plan their trips around buying cigarettes. East Asian countries, Eastern Europe, and parts of Africa have strong networks of stores selling legal menthol cigarettes. Japan stands out with menthol brands making up about 28% of traditional cigarette sales.

While more places are banning menthol cigarettes worldwide, people who want them can still find ways to buy them in 2025.

What States Can You Buy Menthol Cigarettes in the U.S.?

The United States shows a mixed regulatory picture for menthol cigarettes in 2025. Each state and local government takes its own approach to regulation, while a federal ban remains uncertain.

States with no restrictions

Most U.S. states allow unrestricted access to menthol cigarettes. The White House has delayed the federal government’s proposed ban until at least March 2024. This delay keeps most state markets open for menthol sales.

State governments have taken steps to limit local tobacco regulation. Laws in 39 states prevent local communities from controlling tobacco use. Ohio’s Senate made this move by overriding the governor’s veto of legislation that blocks cities from regulating tobacco products. This decision canceled Columbus’ new ban on flavored tobacco products and stopped Cleveland from creating similar rules.

Smokers in these unrestricted states can find authentic menthol brands at local retailers and online platforms like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/.

States with partial bans

Massachusetts and California stand apart from other states with their detailed bans on menthol cigarettes. Massachusetts led the way by banning all flavored tobacco products in 2020. California created similar rules in 2022.

Other states show growing interest in regulation. Hawaii, New York, Vermont, and Washington have bills that would let state officials ban menthol and other flavored tobacco products. This number dropped from last year when ten states proposed similar bills.

These scattered bans create enforcement problems. Massachusetts faces challenges as a small state surrounded by areas without menthol bans. Smokers simply drive to nearby states to buy menthol cigarettes. One industry expert noted that Massachusetts retailers suffer the most from this situation.

Cities with local bans

Many cities have created their own rules against menthol cigarettes. By September 2023, 127 jurisdictions banned all flavored tobacco product sales, including menthol. These local rules affect about 2.96% of the U.S. population.

The ban locations include:

• 94 localities in California, including Los Angeles County, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Francisco
• Six localities in Colorado, including Aspen
• Five localities in Maine
• Ten localities in Minnesota
• Manheim in New York
• Chicago, Illinois (with restrictions within 500 feet of city high schools)

Local bans face unique challenges. Smokers often drive to nearby areas without restrictions to buy these products. Industry experts call this behavior part of the “resistance market” that develops when local areas create prohibitions.

Smokers in restricted areas who prefer not to travel can turn to online retailers like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/. These sites provide menthol cigarettes despite local restrictions.

Menthol Cigarette Alternatives in Banned Countries

The global restrictions on menthol cigarettes have led to several alternatives that give users the same cooling sensation. Many people want to know about menthol alternatives in countries with bans, and the choices might surprise you.

Menthol-flavored vape liquids

Menthol vaping products are still legal in most countries that have banned menthol cigarettes, including the UK and EU member states. These products give you an experience that’s closest to traditional menthol cigarettes without tobacco smoke’s harmful effects. Vaping doesn’t burn tobacco, which reduces your exposure to tar and other harmful chemicals.

Some popular menthol vape options include:

• SMOKO menthol e-liquid gives you a cooling sensation like menthol cigarettes
• Ezee Menthol Cigalike Vape Kit works great for former menthol cigarette smokers
• JUUL Menthol Pods deliver a bold, fresh-tasting menthol flavor with an icy cooling hit

These products help menthol cigarette smokers switch to vaping while keeping that familiar cooling sensation without many harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

Nicotine pouches with mint

Nicotine pouches are a smoke-free alternative that menthol cigarette users love. These discreet products give you nicotine and mint flavor without needing to inhale or create smoke. Black Buffalo’s Mint Nicotine Pouches give you the “same texture, flavor, and tradition” as traditional tobacco products while using only “pharmaceutical-grade nicotine” and “food-grade ingredients” with “no tobacco leaf or stem”.

You can use these pouches anywhere since they’re smoke-free and spit-free, making them perfect for people moving away from menthol cigarettes.

Heat-not-burn tobacco devices

Heat-not-burn technology bridges the gap between traditional cigarettes and vaping. These devices heat tobacco just enough to release nicotine and flavors instead of burning it.

Philip Morris’s IQOS still sells menthol variants called Turquoise and Blue HEETS in many markets, even where menthol cigarette bans exist. Philip Morris plans to market HeatSticks with menthol that make cigarettes easier to use and attract younger users.

NEAFS Sticks work with heating devices like IQOS but use “cellulose fibers soaked in a mixture of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavorings and nicotine” instead of tobacco.

Herbal menthol blends

People who want to avoid nicotine can try herbal menthol blends as a tobacco-free option. KHOOR Menthol sells “nicotine & tobacco-free” sticks made from “plant-based herbal hemp & peppermint leaf blend” that give you a “refreshing menthol experience without addiction”.

These products stay “legal in menthol-banned states” and work as an “ideal substitute for menthol smokers”. KHOOR specifically mentions that their products “mimic the classic mentholated cigarette experience without harmful substances”.

You can still get traditional menthol cigarettes through international shipping from websites like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ if you’re wondering where to buy them.

Legal and Social Controversies Around Menthol Bans

Menthol ban debates reveal complex social justice issues that go beyond public health alone. These controversies grow stronger as regulations spread worldwide.

Racial targeting and marketing history

Tobacco companies intentionally focused their marketing on Black communities through menthol products. Industry records show years of racial targeting with billboards in Black neighborhoods, free samples, and sponsored events like the Kool Jazz Festival. This targeted strategy led to stark differences – 85% of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes while only 34% of white smokers do.

Opposition from advocacy groups

Some prominent civil rights leaders stand against menthol bans. Reverend Al Sharpton fights these prohibitions because they might lead to more police encounters in Black communities. His critics note that Sharpton’s organization takes tobacco industry money. The NAACP backs menthol bans and points to the tobacco industry’s “egregious marketing practices”.

Concerns about black markets

Massachusetts’ menthol ban quickly pushed sales to nearby states. New Hampshire saw a 78% jump while Rhode Island’s sales grew 42.5%. California faces a darker scenario – Mexican drug cartels now smuggle menthol cigarettes across the border.

Impact on small retailers

Small businesses take a heavy financial hit from these bans. A typical convenience store loses $72,285 yearly in non-tobacco sales plus $160,107 in tobacco products when menthol gets banned. The entire convenience industry stands to lose $2.16 billion in sales.

People looking for these products despite bans can still find options through online retailers like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ that ship internationally.

Conclusion

The world’s menthol cigarette market looks completely different now than it did several years ago. Many countries have different rules about selling these products. The UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia and some other nations have banned them outright. The United States still allows them at the federal level. Only Massachusetts and California have state bans, though more than 120 cities have local restrictions. Countries like China, Japan, Russia and most African nations still sell menthol cigarettes freely.

Health officials worldwide are cracking down on these products. Menthol makes tobacco less harsh and more addictive. Companies have long targeted their marketing at young people and minority groups. In spite of that, people who want menthol cigarettes find ways to get them through duty-free shops, travel abroad, or online stores that ship worldwide.

Smokers in restricted markets have found other options. They turn to menthol vape liquids, mint-flavored nicotine pouches, heat-not-burn devices and even tobacco-free herbal menthol blends. People looking for that menthol sensation now have several alternatives to regular cigarettes.

The menthol ban debate goes beyond just health concerns. It touches on social justice issues about marketing to racial groups and worries about increased police presence in minority neighborhoods. Small store owners worry about lost income while others fear a growing black market.

Smokers can still find real menthol cigarettes at https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ with international shipping options. Rules keep changing worldwide, but determined buyers can still get menthol cigarettes through various channels.

Nobody knows exactly what will happen with menthol cigarette rules. Health groups will keep pushing for total bans. Industry representatives and some community leaders will fight back. The answer to “where can you buy menthol cigarettes in the world?” will depend on where and when you ask over the next few years.

FAQs

Q1. Are menthol cigarettes still available in the United States? Yes, menthol cigarettes are still widely available in most of the United States. While a federal ban has been proposed, it has not yet been implemented. However, some states like Massachusetts and California, as well as certain cities, have enacted their own restrictions on menthol cigarette sales.

Q2. Which countries have banned menthol cigarettes? Several countries have implemented bans on menthol cigarettes, including the United Kingdom, all European Union member states, Canada, Australia, Turkey, and Moldova. These bans are part of broader efforts to reduce tobacco use and its associated health risks.

Q3. Why are menthol cigarettes being targeted for bans? Menthol cigarettes are being banned because they mask the harshness of tobacco, potentially making it easier for new smokers to start and harder for current smokers to quit. They also have a history of being marketed specifically to youth and minority communities, raising concerns about targeted addiction.

Q4. What alternatives are available for menthol cigarette smokers in countries with bans? In countries where menthol cigarettes are banned, alternatives include menthol-flavored vape liquids, nicotine pouches with mint flavoring, heat-not-burn tobacco devices, and herbal menthol blends. These products aim to provide a similar sensory experience without traditional cigarette smoke.

Q5. How have menthol cigarette bans affected the tobacco market? Menthol cigarette bans have led to significant changes in the tobacco market. In some areas, they’ve resulted in decreased smoking rates, especially among youth. However, they’ve also led to concerns about black market sales, cross-border purchasing, and economic impacts on small retailers who rely on tobacco sales.