Menthol ban in Alberta: Are the cigarette's days numbered?

The Alberta government is expected to announce changes to its smoking reduction plan on Sunday, and there's speculation the province'sban on flavoured tobacco products that starts on Monday couldalso include menthol cigarettes.

• NDP urged to include menthol in flavoured tobacco ban

The new law banning flavoured tobacco was passed by the Progressive Conservatives last fall, but the rules didnot include menthol flavoured cigarettes. At the time the decision was slammed by the NDP and otheropposition members.

The argument is that flavoured cigarettes and cigarillos target young people, and encourages smoking,

"Menthol is the worst flavouring of all because it soothes the throat, it opens the airways," said Les Hagen, with Action on Smoking and Health. "It helps to set the hook and get young people addicted to nicotine."

High school student Delaney Lamont-Green doesn't think the ban will be effective.

"I honestly don't think its going to change very much, tobacco users are just going to go back to using normal cigarettes and menthol users if they are really committed to it are just going to find it elsewhere."

A similar flavoured tobacco ban in Nova Scotia that takes effect this weekendalso blocks the sale of menthol cigarettes, andthe tobacco industry is already fighting back.

Imperial Tobacco is challenging the move with a lawsuit.

• Flavoured tobacco ban celebrated in Nova Scotia, despite lawsuit

Nadine Bernard,the company's corporate affairs manager, saysshe won't speculate on what Alberta mightdo on Sunday but says the facts don't support a ban.

"The federal government excluded menthol from the flavour ban, it happened twotimes because there was not facts," she said. "They lacked evidence that it was attractive to youth."

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman will make herannouncementonSunday afternoonin Edmonton.