As we noted previously, New York City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D – Astoria / NW Queens) has proposed a citywide ban on all vapor products in flavors other than tobacco and menthol. The AVA is encouraging the New York City Council to reject this proposal, as it would only benefit cigarette companies and lead less NYC citizens to quit smoking.
Valerie Heinmets of The Gothamist writes:
Greg Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, responded to the bill in a statement: “The AVA supports common-sense regulation of its products, such as New York City’s existing ban on the sale to minors. But adults are free to make their own choices. This proposed law would not only take away a consumer choice, it would eliminate a competitor to Big Tobacco.”
The world’s largest tobacco companies, such as Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, have created their own lines of e-cigs but have not entered the flavored e-cig market, and as a result have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to smaller e-cigarette purveyors.
Conley added that the new crop of vape shops are likely to struggle, as he estimated some 80% of their products are flavored e-cigs.
Continue reading at The Gothamist
