New York state seeks ban on flavored e-cigarettes

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced an emergency executive action to ban the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes in the state.

News 12 Staff

Sep 16, 2019, 10:02 AM

Updated 1,683 days ago

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced an emergency executive action to ban the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes in the state. 
It's the latest in a series of actions to combat the increasing number of young people using vape products. 
Cuomo say health officials will hold an emergency meeting this week to enact the ban on flavored e-cigarettes. He says only tobacco and menthol flavored products will be allowed. 
Cuomo cited flavors such as bubble gum and cotton candy as a major reason that vaping among high school students has doubled in recent years. 
He says he's concerned there are no studies on the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use as well. 
The governor is also calling on state police and the health department to ramp up enforcement efforts on retailers who sell to minors. 
"It is addicting young people to nicotine at a very early age," said Cuomo. 
Matt Flax, owner of Vaporville in Hicksville, says he agrees with cracking down on selling to minors, but he disagrees with banning the flavored products. 
"We shouldn't necessarily be banning flavors," said Flax. "There are many, many hundreds of thousands of adults nationwide that depend on them for not going back to combustible tobacco." 
Flax is concerned the ban would hurt his business. 
"If the flavors get banned, it's the bread and butter of our businesses and our livelihood so it would hurt every vape shop out there and you would see shops close left and right," said Flax. 
The American Heart Association criticized Cuomo for not taking the ban far enough. The group's president issued a statement saying that while Cuomo's announcement is "well-intentioned, it will drive our youth to use menthol-flavored products in even greater numbers." 
The organization says it wants Cuomo to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
Cuomo says a menthol ban may come in the future. "There is some data that suggests the menthol flavor for vaping helps menthol cigarette smokers," he says.
The ban on flavored e-cigarette sales could take effect by the end of the month.


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