The ban on electronic cigarettes leaves an impact on students and businesses

The ban will prevent most retailers from selling electronic cigarettes in all flavors other than tobacco, menthol and mint. Other fragrances will be available online and in restricted age places, such as tobacco shops and vape shops.

Juul, the most popular electronic cigarette brand, features sprays with interchangeable, pre-filled pods containing a high concentration of nicotine and a variety of flavors. The company has voluntarily stopped accepting orders for its mango, fruit, cream and cucumber pods from more than 90,000 outlets, including tobacco, this week before the FDA announcement on Thursday.

"JUUL Labs is committed to improving the lives of one billion adult smokers worldwide, with the ultimate goal of eliminating cigarettes," the company said in its announcement. "While we were working to solve this problem, another serious and unforeseen problem has developed: the use of electronic cigarettes by minors, including JUUL."

Juul loves so much

The FDA believes that certain flavors have led children to use the electronic cigarette. John, Bearden High's student, believes that online trends have also played a role.

Currently in Tennessee, only people 18 years and older can buy devices like a Juul. The problem, John said, is that high school seniors are often 18 years old and sell them to their underage friends at a higher price.

"It's very easy to slip it anywhere – backpacks and even your pockets," he said. "You can get out of it in class and hide it under your shirt or in your sleeve."

The Juulas look a lot like USB sticks and can even plug into your computer to charge, said John. He does not use electronic cigarettes, but his friend Capen thinks that the majority of Bearden's students do it.

According to the 2017 Knox County Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 15% of Knox County High School students use electronic cigarettes, which is higher than the rate of traditional smoking.

In the United States, the consumption of electronic cigarettes has increased by 78% among high school students – from 11.7% of students who use them in 2017 to 20.8% in 2018 – according to data published by the FDA.

A Juul device used to inhale nicotine-infused vapors, right, is displayed next to a USB drive or a standard USB stick on the left. School officials and law enforcement officials say that recently released Juul devices are easy to hide for minors because they are small and look like USB keys commonly used to store computer data. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch)

Daniel Mayer, an 18 year old freshman from the University of Tennessee, suggests that an even larger percentage of students use these devices at the university.

"I guess one in two (on campus) people have it, maybe one in three," he said. "The reason I continued to do that was the nicotine buzz but, in reality, many people just do it to watch the smoke come out of their mouths."

Barstool 5th year, an Instagram account documenting the Greek university life and its party culture, said that Juul's recent announcement was an "emergency." He has also published pictures of students dressed as Juul for Halloween, with Juul-themed birthday cakes and wearing Juuls as earrings.

Students use their Juuls in class, Mayer said, and some teachers know it well. His friend recently told him the story of a teacher designating a corner of the classroom as the "Juul Corner" because of the number of students using their devices.

He agrees with John regarding online trends and the ability to conceal. But the devices are significantly more affordable than the larger vaping systems, most commonly used by adults, which can cost about $ 70 for a starter kit plus $ 25 for a liquid.

Adults who use these devices typically use a fluid with an average nicotine content of 0.6%, said Agrafiotis. But for around $ 15, a person can buy a pack of four Juul capsules, each containing 5% nicotine and 20 cigarettes.

"I think the attraction here is that little buzz (nicotine) that they have," said Agrafiotis. "It's easy, quick, concealable, it gives you that jolt, there are so many things that would make it desirable for the younger generation."

Despite the FDA's findings, Agrafiotis does not believe that flavors are a factor in young people.

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"They need this flavored product"

The FDA chief, Scott Gottlieb, said he saw the benefits of devices like electronic cigarettes to prevent people from using combustible products.

However, teenage use has become "an epidemic," he said during a conference call.

"Any political arrangement to promote innovations likely to present an alternative to smoking – particularly with respect to electronic cigarettes – can not and should not be to the detriment of a generation's dependency." children with nicotine through these same delivery vehicles, "he said. "It just will not happen, I'll take all the necessary steps to prevent that."

One of the reasons he believes kids are attracted to appliances is the flavor. But flavors are also the reason why people decide to stick to vaping instead of smoking, said Agrafiotis.

"(Adults) need this flavored product to not smoke," said Agrafiotis. "Children are not attracted to flavors. You can not tell me that cucumber or mango is an appealing flavor for kids. "

Students surveyed, high school students and convenience store employees interviewed by Knox News agreed that Juul's fresh mint and mango pods were the most popular sellers.

Mark Orr, director of Rocky Top Market on Cumberland Avenue, said his students usually buy Juul products in his store.

"They have been very important and represent a significant percentage of sales," he said. "The stores are trying to get (fruity flavors) wholesalers but it's hard because the stores are ordering them all because of (the ban)."

Fresh mint will always be available at convenience stores and service stations. The FDA chief said the flavor, as well as tobacco and menthol, were more popular than adults.

The FDA did not want to ban the flavors offered in traditional cigarettes, said Gottlieb, as this would prevent smokers from having the opportunity to buy a healthier version of what they already use.

However, Agrafiotis believes that the FDA's decision is doing more harm to the population than it is good.

Businesses and smokers will hurt

"The truth is that children are starting to smoke," said Agrafiotis. "If the vaping was not available, they would continue to smoke … The fact that children do not smoke should be celebrated and not punished.I think children are smarter than adults who do a lot of these laws: choose a product based on steam rather than a combustible product ".

But with fewer choices available at gas stations, the choice may not be so easy. Most smokers buy cigarettes at gas stations, but the number of alternative products they can buy in stores will be limited once the ban is fully implemented in the next two months.

"It's great to have these products on the market because maybe on a whim or because they've heard about it, they'll take it and try it and stop smoking," he said. declared.

The FDA argues that children who start vaping are more likely to turn to combustible cigarettes.

"Who wants to pass from a Juul to a scent of burning tobacco, ashtray or fuel?" Agrafiotis asked. "No one wants to do this, the only data that can be saved is that if you restrict access to these products you will need to get nicotine." The delivery method that remains is the delivery method that kills 440 000 Americans every year, unfortunately. "

The measures taken by Juul and the FDA could also affect companies in Tennessee.

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Sam Salloukh estimates that aromatised pod sales exceed "normal" flavors at his Tobacco World Smoke Shop in Arlington, Tennessee, but he will soon be unable to order them.

"Juul has the advantage of being able to continue selling these products on its website," said Agrafiotis.

Complete restrictions imposed by Juul and the FDA

In addition to interrupting orders in all stores, Juul has implemented a third-party identification system on its website.

The system will only allow people aged 21 and over to buy Juul devices with several verification methods and product restrictions. You can only buy two devices and 15 packs of pods a month, and no more than 10 devices a year.

Juul will also increase the number of its secret customers, reduce its presence on social media and repress those who violate the conditions of Juul during the resale of products.

Although Juul has made these announcements voluntarily, the FDA has since announced that it would make some of these practices mandatory.

Flavored electronic cigarette products, other than tobacco, menthol and mint, will only be available in limited stores. Online sales must have stricter policies for checking age.

Gottlieb has also said he wants to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products and flavors contained in products such as cigars and cigarillos.

An official policy and updated e-cigarette is being implemented, said Gottlieb. The FDA provides a few months before the public is informed, the market transitions and the effective implementation of the policy.

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee reporter Max Garland contributed to this story.

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