Everything You Need to Know About the Vaping Ban in New York

On September 15th, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted out his announcement to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Two days later, New York was stated as the first in the nation to ban vaping products. This law will go into effect at the beginning of October, immediately following the 14-day grace period provided by the New York State Department of Health. Local Health Departments will conduct visits to enforce the flavor ban and ensure no other flavors are sold besides Menthol and Tobacco. Retailers who violate the ban will face fines of up to $2,000 per violation, which is defined as each unit of flavored product that is possessed, manufactured, or sold.

Governor Cuomo believes the ban will reduce the percentage of youth that participate in vaping. “It is undeniable that vaping companies are deliberately using flavors like bubblegum, Captain Crunch and cotton candy to get young people hooked on e-cigarettes,” argues Cuomo, “it’s a public health crisis and it ends today.” Although consumers will not be subject to penalties for possessing flavored e-cigarette products, Cuomo hopes the ban on selling will stop nicotine addiction from occurring at these young ages.

Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash

The responses have proven to be diverse, with many pleased with the new law and encourage further development and others to be pushing petitions in attempts to reverse the ban. Numerous individuals have stated their belief that e-cigarettes have not been around long enough to ensure the safety of their usage and are alarmed by the sudden confirmed deaths revolved around vaping. Others are more concerned for a sudden reverse in the decrease of tobacco products, such as cigarettes; however, the ban on flavored vaping is intended to reduce the sudden increase in youth nicotine usage by taking out the intriguing factor to teens, such as the fun names and popular e-liquid flavors. As Governor Cuomo stated he will not wait for the federal government many agree and want all vaping products to be banned as soon as possible. Furthermore, some believe the ban should include menthol flavoring as well, or else youth consumers will continue to use menthol-flavored e-liquids and other products. Menthol is targeted toward the adult users and although it is not considered enticing to the youth users some claim the ban might need to be revisited in the near future.

Photo by Antonin FELS on Unsplash

Also in response to the New York ban and the suggested upcoming bans are the e-cigarette users who have claimed that vaping helped them quit smoking tobacco cigarettes. The harms of vape products are currently uncertain; however, using tobacco products such as cigarettes is known to cause lung cancer and limit the life span of any daily user. One of the arguments to the New York ban is the idea that without vaping products many consumers will revert to tobacco and will cause more harm to themselves than had they remained on the e-cigarette. Many also argue that the ban on flavored e-cigarette products should not be prioritized. Certain celebrities have used their platforms to discuss the current problems that should be prioritized; Stephen King questions when school shootings will be “taken care of” and implies the safety of the majority of the youth is affected by these shootings and is a larger issue than vaping.

Despite the split opinions on whether e-cigarettes should be banned or not, several major companies have quit selling vaping products, such as Walmart. Even with a boycott suggested due to the belief that Walmart is not doing the right thing, the company remains with its initial decision. Similarly, President Donald Trump has made corresponding claims and hopes to initiate the ban federally. With many government officials focusing on the ban of flavored vaping products and consumer petitions the following suit, it is unclear for the future of e-cigarettes.

Links : NY State , Lohud , New York Times

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