Vaping won't vanish, so regulate thoughtfully
“Let’s just pass a new law, let’s pass it quickly and let’s ban flavored e-cigarettes,” Cuomo said.
The governor’s executive overreach was struck down, but even legislatively banning all flavors could be problematic for adults wanting to quit. Given that vaping is not going to go away, what Albany needs is a careful evaluation, firmly grounded in facts.
As public concern grew last year over lung illnesses linked to the activity, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people to stop vaping altogether. The agency recently backed away from that guideline, though it still says youth, pregnant women and non-tobacco users should not vape.
aping under age 21 is against the law. In November, New York included e-cigarettes in the law raising the age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21, the same age for the legal purchase of alcohol. Adults can buy a variety of alcoholic drinks that might appeal to underage drinkers, including hard cider, Twisted Tea and flavored vodka.
Adult smokers who use vaping to help them quit traditional cigarettes may enjoy flavor variety in their vaping products. And banning all flavored products could send more nicotine-craving vape users to black market sources, whose safety and supplies are not regulated.
New York should enforce laws already on the books and then craft effective regulations that acknowledge adult smokers who want to quit and, more importantly, discourage kids from starting. An essential part of that goal lies in preventing marketers from targeting them.