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Ban e-cigarettes? Oak Park mulls following San Francisco’s lead, saying youth use them at ‘alarming’ rate

While the Oak Park village board awaits an ordinance that could restrict the sale of e-cigarettes, one trustee is asking whether the product should be outright banned within its borders.

Following the July 8 village board meeting, trustee Jim Taglia cited recent bans or partial bans on e-cigarettes and flavored nicotine products in San Francisco and Aspen, Colo. as possible measures for Oak Park to consider.

His suggestion follows on the heels of 2018 Illinois Youth Survey results, which showed children attending District 97 schools and Oak Park and River Forest High School used the products at an “alarming” rate. That information was presented to the village board last January.

“I know we’re waiting on the first read of a draft ordinance providing additional restrictions on e-cigarettes,” Taglia said. “Further to that, I would like to hear staff’s thoughts on the possibility of a total ban on the purchase and delivery of e-cigarettes within the village. E-cigarette use by our youth has continued to accelerate at a level that has never been experienced with conventional smoking.”

Earlier this year, the village board reviewed data provided by its board of health related to e-cigarette use by local children and teenagers.

Among the proposals presented in January included a strict enforcement and strengthening of the village’s tobacco 21 ordinance, which prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone under 21 years old. Staff also proposed various restrictions on electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS, products.

At that meeting, public health director Mike Charley read 2018 Illinois Youth Survey results, which indicated local youth used the products at an “alarming” rate.

According to that 2018 survey data, 45 percent of 12th graders had used e-cigarette products, while 32 percent of 10th graders and 13 percent of 8th graders also used ENDS products.

“The percentage increase from 2016 to 2018 for 12th grade increased 55 percent, 10th grade increased 167 percent and 8th grade increased 160 percent,” Charley said. “Locally, we know the numbers mimic what we see around the country.”

When reached for comment, San Francisco-based e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL Labs released a statement opposing an outright ban of the products.

“The full prohibition of vapor products is widely opposed by San Francisco voters, San Francisco opinion leaders and public health experts across the country and world,” the statement read. “We are supporting these efforts, as part of the Coalition for Reasonable Vaping Regulation, to enact strict new regulation and enforcement instead of a ban for all adults that will fuel a black market of vapor products and the increased use of deadly cigarettes.”

Oak Park spokesman David Powers said the village’s law department is working on language to amend the current village code regulating tobacco products to include the additional e-cigarette rules recommended by the board of health in January, though a full ban of the products has yet to officially be requested.

Taglia, however, feels the village should keep a possible ban in mind as a way to tackle the issue.

“I think we should consider every tool available to combat the crisis,” Taglia said. “I think we should look into it and consider it because it’s becoming an option other places are taking advantage of.”