I watched most of the hearing live, and while I found it to be grandstanding that was frustrating from politically aware vaper's perspective, I would also say I found the whole thing tame. The consistent item that was stated in vein of "I hope we can all agree on this" was with regards to 'don't allow kids to buy this stuff.' Blu's guy said this as well as Njoy's guy and of course everyone else in the room. There are very few politically aware vapers (here on ECF) that would disagree with that position, myself being one of those. Yet, I accept that as majority position and consider it tame in larger battle, and ineffective (kids gonna vape no matter what).
In scheme of things (FDA looming regulations, fact that Congress is more than 7 progressive liberals), this was a tame showing from our opposition. Their arguments routinely came off as silly, and only thing I think they scored points on is why would adult vapers 'need' flavors like cotton candy and gummi bears, while also making point that it would seem those flavors exist mostly to entice kids into vaping. While these 7 or so congresspeople have a visible agenda, I would say in scheme of things, it is very likely to be met with opposition and even in this hearing, even with free reign to grandstand, they weren't able to overcome the legitimate reasons why adults do vape a multitude of flavors.
If we lived in an America right now where Dems were completely on top of their game, and likely to dominate politics for next 10 years, I'd be a little nervous. As it stands right now, I think these people are whistling in the wind. Let 'em have their grandstand event to vent their frustrations in light of what is inevitable (vaping becoming normalized, part of mainstream culture).
I do still think flavors is biggest issue of them all and that it will be hard to avoid what will likely be a move to ban or greatly curtail the availability of choices we have today. This hearing contributed to the groundwork that is being laid to move in that direction. I still expect a ban like that to occur to some degree but also to be overturned, in time, or within decade of such a ban.
The marketing to kids thing will be interesting to see how that plays out (apart from the flavors issue). Seems clear to me that these senators want complete restriction on all advertising, but I think that is entirely unrealistic, and even FDA won't go along with that. While us vapers might like to see ads in more places with idea that it could help a whole bunch of smokers, I think in a world where word of mouth is only means to reach people, vaping would still get its message out quite well. But pretty sure it'll never come to that, and it will be interesting how adults walk the line that allows for marketing to adults while somehow trying to avoid same marketing efforts where kids may or may not be tuned in. I see that as impossible. Unless someone is expressively practicing ageism, I can't think of anything that is able to be not marketed to kids in current society. IOW, as long as a product is being advertised to the mainstream, there is no way to assure zero appeal to kids.
