The ban is based on the EU Tobacco Products Directive. According to research, flavourings such as menthol and chocolate increase experimenting with tobacco and the danger of becoming a regular smoker, especially among young people.  The aim of removing flavourings is to reduce the appeal of smoking.
Menthol cigarettes may induce a stronger addiction than other cigarettes. This results from the fact that menthol anaesthetises the mucous membranes, which means that the smoker draws the smoke very deeply into the lungs.
Menthol cigarettes can be sold until 20 May 2020.