WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Food and Drug Administration??s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee??s draft report shows that menthol cigarette usage among teens is increasing, with use among minorities in this age group "very high," the Wall Street Journal reports. The panel will release its full report on menthol cigarettes next week, with the expectation that the committee will recommend a ban on menthol-flavored cigarettes.

Menthol cigarettes capture around 30 percent of total U.S. cigarette sales. Lorillard Inc., manufacturer of Newport brand, has the most to lose if a ban is enacted, given that Newport is responsible for about 90 percent of its sales. Altria Group Inc. and Reynolds American Inc. also sell menthol brands.

The tobacco industry has pointed out a lack of evidence that menthol flavoring contributes to an increase in likelihood that the person will start smoking, compared to regular cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes have the same health risks as other cigarettes.

The draft also considered smoking patterns and found that more than 80 percent of African-American teen smokers and more than 50 percent of Hispanic smokers between the ages of 12 and 17 smoke menthol cigarettes. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed that during the past 10 years, the number of teens who smoked has dropped significantly.