Certain types of flavored cigarettes will no longer be made, imported or sold in the U.S. as of Sept. 22.
Congress passed the Tobacco Control Act in June, which granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration power to control the production and distribution of tobacco products.
The new regulation is focused on decreasing smoking rates across the country, particularly within the nation's youth.
"I think it's a joke," said Scott Staples, owner of Da Gallery tobacco shop in Auburn. "It's just a way for Obama to cover up his smoking habits."
According to thetruth.com, an anti-smoking Web site, 43.9 percent of young adults, 22.3 percent of high school students and 8.1 percent of middle school students in the U.S. smoke cigarettes.
In an effort to make smoking less appealing to young people, a restriction has been put on candy, spice and fruit-flavored cigarettes, according to the National Public Radio Web site.
Menthol cigarettes, flavored pipe tobacco, including that used for hookah, flavored cigars and flavored smokeless tobacco products are still legal under the new policy.
"If you're taking away flavored cigarettes, why not take away flavored tobacco?" Staples said. "Why not take away flavored beer? Why not take all your rights away?"
Staples said he thinks tobacco companies will come up with new and original ideas to improvise for the ban placed on producing and distributing flavored tobacco.
In the mean time, Staples said he will begin recommending cigars and herbal-flavored cigarettes to customers that normally buy flavored tobacco.
However, Staples said he doesn't think just because a cigarette is herbal that it is necessarily healthier.
"Smoke is smoke," Staples said.
According to NPR's Web site, another change is being implemented which includes more extensive warning labels on cigarette packages.
Warning labels must cover 50 percent of the front and back of the package and the word "warning" must be written in bold, capital letters.
Also, companies are no longer allowed to advertise "light," "low tar" and "mild" cigarettes.
These advertisements give buyers a false impression that the cigarettes are safe.
"I think the ban is a great idea," said Casey Klepchick, a sophomore in international business. "Flavored cigarettes are appealing to young crowds, and by prohibiting the sale and production of such products, there will be a decrease in underage smoking."
With the passage of the Tobacco Control Act, cigarette advertising is now limited to adult audiences only.
NPR said billboards and other forms of advertisement within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds are illegal under the new policy.
Tobacco-related sponsorships for sports and entertainment events will be dissolved, and free giveaways with the purchase of tobacco products are no longer permitted, according to NPR's Web site.
All of this is being done in an effort to decrease smoking rates across the U.S.
Months before the Tobacco Control Act was signed, Congress agreed to place a 62-cent tax increase on cigarettes.
This, along with the major changes from the Tobacco Control Act, has been detrimental to some small businesses across the country.
Da Gallery was not specifically hurt by the ban on flavored cigarettes, but Staples said his other business felt the effects.
Staples anticipates the government prohibiting the production of all flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettes.
Staples said he thinks these government-backed efforts will not have much success.
"Once you make something legal and you put it out there for the general public and then take it away, it goes in a bad direction," Staples said. "History proves it."
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