On Tuesday, November 26, the New York City Council voted (42-2) to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and vaping liquids.
This ban comes only a few days after another New Yorker has died of vaping-related illness—the second person in NYC in only a few months. Under this new legislation, the sale of flavors such as mint, menthol, and wintergreen will be prohibited, and presumes “that an electronic cigarette retail dealer in possession of six or more flavored e-cigarettes, or more than 12 fluid ounces (or 354.882 mL) of e-liquids, has intent to sell or offer for sale. Those caught in violation of the ban will face fines upwards of $1,000.
Introduced by Council Member Mark Levine at the beginning of the year, he now celebrates this vote toward the ban stating:
“Today New York City is finally addressing a public health crisis which has been mounting for years while governments across the nation did next to nothing; we are finally taking on the resurgence of youth nicotine addiction l brought on by the rise of e-cigarettes. Today the City Council is moving to ban the fruity, minty, candy-like flavors of e-cigarettes that have ensnared a new generation of children in this city in the grip of nicotine addiction. These flavors are clearly designed to appeal to young people and they have worked – nearly two-thirds of the thousands of New York City kids who smoke now reporting that they started by using flavored e-cigarettes. As a city, we have an obligation to act decisively now to protect young people and I am proud that the City Council is ready to pass this historic piece of legislation.”
The legislation will also require that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) conducts a campaign to educate the public and make them aware of “smoking cessation services.” While Mayor Bill de Blasio still has to sign it, he has previously expressed his support for the bill. Once signed into law, the bill will go into effect 6 months later.
NYC will be the first big city in the U.S. to ban the sale of these flavored vaping liquids.
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