Denver City Council Bans Sale of Flavored Vapes and Tobacco Products
The Denver City Council voted 11 to 1 on Monday night to ban the sale of flavored vapes and other tobacco products within the city limits. The ordinance, which includes e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, vapes, and other flavored nicotine and tobacco products, aims to reduce nicotine use among teenagers and young adults.
Advocates for the ban, many of whom wore red to the lengthy council meeting, argued that flavored tobacco products disproportionately impact children and people of color. Council member Darrell Watson, who sponsored the measure, stated that about 7% of Denver teenagers have admitted to vaping or using vape cigarettes. He emphasized that the ban would lead to better health for communities and youth, less targeting of vulnerable populations, and a reduction in preventable deaths caused by tobacco use.
On the other hand, tobacco and vape shop owners, who attended the meeting in yellow shirts reading “Stop the Menthol Ban! Save our Stores and Jobs!” expressed concerns that the ordinance would destroy small local businesses. Zack Shadi-Kingsley, who owns three convenience stores in Denver where nicotine products account for about 55% of inside sales, said the ban would force him to consider selling his locations and moving out of the city.
Anthony Carothers, a retired Chicago Police Department officer with more than 30 years of service, argued that bans as a whole do not work and that criminalizing flavored tobacco would be ineffective without proper enforcement. He noted that every major city in the country is short on officers, making it challenging to prioritize vaping offenses over other crimes.
With the passage of this ordinance, Denver joins seven other Colorado cities that have restricted or prohibited flavored tobacco product sales, including Aspen, Boulder, Carbondale, Edgewater, Glenwood Springs, Golden, and Snowmass. The ban amends Denver’s municipal code, making it illegal for retailers to sell or deliver flavored tobacco products within the city.
As the debate continues between public health advocates and business owners, the impact of Denver’s flavored tobacco ban on both nicotine use among youth and the local economy remains to be seen.
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- Denver City Council Bans Sale of Flavored Vapes and Tobacco Products - December 18, 2024
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