All flavored tobacco are prohibited across New York City
Last month New York City Council nearly unanimously voted for an ordinance, expanding the federal ban on flavored cigarettes, in order to include all tobacco products that contain flavorings.
Therefore, all tobacco products, including cigarillos, cigars, loose tobacco and other tobacco products that contain flavoring agents are banned from sales in all stores and other authorized points of sale, according to the ordinance. The regulation does not cover menthol and wintergreen flavorings.
Neighboring states of New Jersey and Maine have approved similar legislations several weeks earlier. In addition, Rhode Island considers banning cigars with exotic flavors.
According to the Mayor’s spokesman, Michael R. Bloomberg backs the legislation that went to his office for final consideration and approval. The Mayor signed it, meaning that any certified tobacco retailer caught on distributing banned products, will have to pay a fine of up to will be subject to a $2,000 and even loose his license. The legislation is to come into force within four months.
Councilwoman Christine C. Quinn said that the ordinance was introduced to protect New York Citizens from dangerous products wrapped in appealing packages and containing attractive flavors of chocolate, exotic fruit and other. She added that despite all the efforts of tobacco industry to mask the risks related to the consumption, it is hazardous to health, and the councilors had to act instantly to crack down the use of flavored tobacco.
In conformity with a poll of high school students across the City, the rate of the youngsters who prefer cigars and cigarillos has roughly tripled within the last decade. A common cigar might contain the same amount of tobacco as in five cigarettes and many cigar-makers manufacture little cigars that closely resemble cigarettes, but are much cheaper than cigarettes.
Anti-tobacco advocates allege that all flavored tobacco products are intended at children by means of colorful packages, and youth-focused marketing strategies.
One of the major sponsors of the ordinance, Councilman Joel Rivera, admitted that the flavored tobacco is the newest incarnation of Reynolds American mascot Joe Camel – a world-famous cartoon character banned in the 1990s.
The only vote against the approval of the ordinance came from Councilman Lewis Fidler, who said that he has been an occasional cherry cigar-smoker. He admitted that the legislation was drafted too broadly. In addition, he said that there has been no reliable proof that people take up smoking after trying flavored tobacco products.
The council member added that the ban on sales tobacco products to kids was implemented a long time ago, and if the authorities really wanted to make those products inaccessible to kids, they should have levied more taxes, as it has been a proven incentive to keep away from a product.
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets submitted an open letter to the Mayor’s office asking him to veto the bill, but they failed to succeed in their attempt.
Local smokers are disappointed by the move, saying that they suffer in the name of disputable evidence that flavored tobacco lures teenagers to smoking.
