New York Senate Passes Bill to Ban Child-Enticing E-Cigarettes

New York Senate bans child-enticing e-cigarettes

In a move to protect the state’s youth from the allure of vaping, the New York Senate passed Senate Bill S7882 last Wednesday, which aims to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes that resemble school supplies, children’s toys, or use packaging and advertising designed to appeal to minors. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Monica Martinez (D), imposes steep fines on violators, with a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for a first offense and $2,500 for each subsequent violation.

Senator Martinez emphasized the importance of this legislation, stating, “It’s time to clear the air of underage vaping in New York and the Senate’s approval get us one step closer to making that a reality. These devices and their marketing are deliberately designed to entice children. For the protection of our state’s most vulnerable population, it’s time for this to end.”

Under the proposed law, businesses selling tobacco and related products would be prohibited from offering items featuring pictures, logos, symbols, mottos, selling messages, or colors that specifically appeal to minors, as well as representations of cartoon, movie, or video game characters, toys, electronic devices, and school supplies, such as markers, highlighters, ballpoint pens, and thumb drives.

The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by nine members of the state Senate, must still be approved by the Assembly and signed by the governor before going into effect. A companion version of the proposal, sponsored by Assemblyman Charles Fall, is currently pending in the Assembly.

According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarettes have remained the most popular tobacco product among underage users for the tenth year in a row. While the report noted a decrease in e-cigarette use among high school students, there was an increase in overall tobacco product use among middle school students.

As New York takes steps to address the issue of child-enticing e-cigarettes, the passage of Senate Bill S7882 marks a significant milestone in the fight to protect the health and well-being of the state’s youth from the dangers of underage vaping.

News source:
New York Senate Advances Bill to Ban E-Cigarettes Designed to Entice Children

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