Menthol ban ridiculous, says MEP

An EU plan to ban menthol cigarettes has been described as "ridiculous" by local MEP Paul Nuttall.

A revised EU directive aims to make cigarettes less attractive by tightening rules on how they are made, presented and sold.

Mr Nuttall says, as well as claiming that flavoured tobacco encourages smoking by disguising the product’s nature the proposed ban will outlaw 'misleading' labels such as 'natural' or 'organic'. 

Mr Nuttall, Deputy Leader of UKIP, slammed the plans and described them as "utterly ridiculous".

"This legislation shows just how far the EU is prepared to go to control how we live and what we do.

"If people want to smoke menthol cigarettes, let them. What will the EU do next? Regulate what time we go to bed? Ban putting sugar in tea? Ban Buck's Fizz because the orange juice disguises the alcohol?"

The rules, which must be approved by MEPs, could take effect in 2016.