Mayor de Blasio officially signed into law a ban on the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes and flavored e-liquids in New York City.
This new ban goes into effect on July 1, 2020, and includes electronic cigarettes and flavored e-liquids in menthol, mint, and wintergreen flavors.
“Big tobacco, take note: New York City will not stand for your cynical attempts to hook children on a potentially lethal, lifelong nicotine addiction,” de Blasio said in a press release.
He added, “By signing this legislation, we are standing up for our kids, the health of our city, and taking the action that is necessary to curb tobacco use once and for all.”
In addition to menthol, mint, and wintergreen flavors, the bill will also ban “concept flavors” such as “Polar Breeze” or “Rainbow Road.”
“With the signing of this groundbreaking bill, New York City is finally taking direct aim at the fruity, minty, candy-like flavors of e-cigarettes which were clearly designed to appeal to young people in the first place. As a city, our highest obligation has to be to protect young people. I am proud that we have worked together to prevent yet another generation of young people from falling into the grips of a lifetime of addiction to flavored nicotine products,” City Council Health Committee Chair Mark Levine said in a press release.
The new law will also require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to do an awareness campaign to help educate everyone about the smoking-cessation resources available in the city. This will go into effect in 90 days.
This legislation adds on to the previous actions to discourage e-cigs among minors.
The CDC reports that as of December 10, a total of 2,409 people have been hospitalized due to e-cigarette or vaping. There have been 52 confirmed deaths in 26 states related to the complications.
