New York’s ban on flavored e-cigarettes went into effect today, and the state also ended the sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies.
According to WRGB, New York became the fourth state to restrict flavored e-cigarettes and other vaping products, except for tobacco flavors, on Monday over concerns about popularity among teenagers and breathing illnesses linked to vaping. According to data from the state health department last year, use among high school students increased from 10.5% in 2014 to 27.4% in 2018.
The Empire State was set to be the first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes last fall, but a state appeals court temporarily blocked it after the vaping industry sued to block the ban.
WENY reports New York also became the second state to prohibit the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigs, in all pharmacies on Monday. Any pharmacy caught selling tobacco products will face a fine of up to $100 per item.
“Selling tobacco products in pharmacies has long sent a contradictory message to consumers by offering tobacco alongside medicine or products for illnesses either caused by or made worse by smoking,” Sarah Robbins with the Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition said in a statement.
The changes come less than a year after New York state raised the smoking age from 18 to 21 to slow or prevent the use of tobacco age among teenagers. According to the American Cancer Society, 95% of all smokers begin using tobacco before age 21.
According to WRGB, people addicted to smoking or vaping can contact a health care provider, call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS or visit www.nysmokefree.com for help, such as free nicotine replacement therapy for eligible residents. Effective medications and counseling are covered by Medicaid and most insurance programs.