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Young woman smokingGetty Images, Royalty Free
There continues to be increasing recognition and concern that teen use of electronic, or, e-cigarettes is on the rise. From the standpoint of the nicotine content, as well as based on the concern that e-cigarette use in teens can lead to higher likelihood of going on to traditional cigarette smoking, several groups have been working towards reducing teen exposure to e-cigarettes use. Even in the face of these concerns, traditional tobacco cigarette smoking rates are at an all-time low in the United States. In 2017, 14% of U.S. adults were cigarette smokers, a reduction by 15.5% compared to 2016, and a 67% reduction since 1965. Young adults ages 18-24 years reduced smoking rates from 13% in 2016 to 10% in 2017. In many ways, this data is contrary to what those who strongly oppose e-cigarettes were worried about– with the rise in e-cigarette use, there has actually been an overall decline in cigarette smoking in young adults and in adults overall. Smoking cessation programs have strongly advocated for encouraging use of e-cigarettes as cessation tools for this very reason, as there has been some reasonable evidence that e-cigarette use, also known as vaping, may aid in reduction in traditional cigarette smoking in existing smokers.
The Food and Drug Administration is now aiming to reduce access to all flavored cigarettes, including both flavored e-cigarettes as well as menthol-flavored traditional cigarettes. The popular e-cigarettes brand Juul Labs, based in San Francisco, will no longer be selling flavors such as mango and cucumber in retail stores, and will suspend their social media campaigns, as a response to the F.D.A.’s initiatives to help reduce teen interest in vaping. Juul will continue to sell mint, menthol, and tobacco flavors in stores, with the goal towards preventing e-cigarette users from looking to buy traditional menthol-flavored cigarettes. As for online purchases, Juul Labs will continue to sell all flavors of e-cigarettes, but now with the following on their website:
JUUL Labs’ mission is to eliminate cigarettes. JUUL is intended for adult smokers who want to switch from combustible cigarettes.
You must be at least 21 years old to purchase products on JUUL.com.
You are required to complete an age verification process prior to purchasing on JUUL.com. Your address, identity, and age will be confirmed via multiple searches of trusted public domains and our internal specialists.
By accepting these terms, you are confirming that you are +21 AND AGREE TO BE AGE VERIFIED.
Age verification to purchase Juul products online will include entering date of birth as well as the last four digits of the purchaser’s social security number.
Liquid flavoring for e-cigaretteGetty Images, Royalty Free
In a similar initiative, the F.D.A. proposed to ban the retail sale of menthol-flavored traditional cigarettes. Earlier this year, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids issued a statement requesting that the F.D.A. should ban all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, claiming that flavored tobacco products are aimed towards the youth population. The American Academy of Pediatrics also supports this initiative, as they feel that any flavored cigarette product will help create a new generation of smokers. While Canada and the European Union have already initiated a ban on commercial sale of menthol cigarettes, the current proposal to ban commercial sale of menthol cigarettes in the United States may take years to come into effect.
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Young woman smokingGetty Images, Royalty Free
There continues to be increasing recognition and concern that teen use of electronic, or, e-cigarettes is on the rise. From the standpoint of the nicotine content, as well as based on the concern that e-cigarette use in teens can lead to higher likelihood of going on to traditional cigarette smoking, several groups have been working towards reducing teen exposure to e-cigarettes use. Even in the face of these concerns, traditional tobacco cigarette smoking rates are at an all-time low in the United States. In 2017, 14% of U.S. adults were cigarette smokers, a reduction by 15.5% compared to 2016, and a 67% reduction since 1965. Young adults ages 18-24 years reduced smoking rates from 13% in 2016 to 10% in 2017. In many ways, this data is contrary to what those who strongly oppose e-cigarettes were worried about– with the rise in e-cigarette use, there has actually been an overall decline in cigarette smoking in young adults and in adults overall. Smoking cessation programs have strongly advocated for encouraging use of e-cigarettes as cessation tools for this very reason, as there has been some reasonable evidence that e-cigarette use, also known as vaping, may aid in reduction in traditional cigarette smoking in existing smokers.
The Food and Drug Administration is now aiming to reduce access to all flavored cigarettes, including both flavored e-cigarettes as well as menthol-flavored traditional cigarettes. The popular e-cigarettes brand Juul Labs, based in San Francisco, will no longer be selling flavors such as mango and cucumber in retail stores, and will suspend their social media campaigns, as a response to the F.D.A.’s initiatives to help reduce teen interest in vaping. Juul will continue to sell mint, menthol, and tobacco flavors in stores, with the goal towards preventing e-cigarette users from looking to buy traditional menthol-flavored cigarettes. As for online purchases, Juul Labs will continue to sell all flavors of e-cigarettes, but now with the following on their website:
JUUL Labs’ mission is to eliminate cigarettes. JUUL is intended for adult smokers who want to switch from combustible cigarettes.
You must be at least 21 years old to purchase products on JUUL.com.
You are required to complete an age verification process prior to purchasing on JUUL.com. Your address, identity, and age will be confirmed via multiple searches of trusted public domains and our internal specialists.
By accepting these terms, you are confirming that you are +21 AND AGREE TO BE AGE VERIFIED.
Age verification to purchase Juul products online will include entering date of birth as well as the last four digits of the purchaser’s social security number.
Liquid flavoring for e-cigaretteGetty Images, Royalty Free
In a similar initiative, the F.D.A. proposed to ban the retail sale of menthol-flavored traditional cigarettes. Earlier this year, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids issued a statement requesting that the F.D.A. should ban all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, claiming that flavored tobacco products are aimed towards the youth population. The American Academy of Pediatrics also supports this initiative, as they feel that any flavored cigarette product will help create a new generation of smokers. While Canada and the European Union have already initiated a ban on commercial sale of menthol cigarettes, the current proposal to ban commercial sale of menthol cigarettes in the United States may take years to come into effect.
