The Chicago City Council voted in favour of a measure authored by Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th Ward) at 46-4, that proposes to ban the sale of most flavoured liquid nicotine products, with the exception of those that taste and smell like tobacco.
Chicago on Lake Michigan, Illinois, is among the largest cities in the United States. In September 2019, Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed to support a citywide ban on the sale of all flavoured vaping products, however, she never introduced such a measure.
The ban applies to most flavoured liquid nicotine products, with the exception of those that taste and smell like tobacco.
However a bill setting in place such a ban was recently authored by O’Shea. It applies to any liquid nicotine product with “tastes or aromas of menthol, mint, wintergreen, chocolate, vanilla, honey, cocoa, any candy, any dessert, any alcoholic beverage, any fruit, any herb, or any spice,” says the measure.
“They are targeting our children, and it will cost lives,” said O’Shea of the vaping industry. He was quoting the recent study saying that vapers are more likely to contract the coronavirus and suffer serious consequences.
Despite these claims, some Chicago Aldermen voted against the measure, saying it would hurt local businesses. On the other hand, those who voted in favour argued that young people’s health should be prioritized. “We should not trade off the health of young people for the budget,” said Ald. Harry Osterman (48th Ward).
Flavours help adults quit smoking
Meanwhile, countless studies have indicated that flavours are imperative in helping adult smokers quit, by switching from smoking cigarettes to using the safer alternatives. Moreover, recent studies have shown that flavours are not the main motivator behind teen vaping, the “cool” factor and curiosity are.
Additionally, a new study of high school seniors in the U.S., found that teens who crave excitement are more likely to use multiple illicit substances, including tobacco and vaping products. Researchers Kevin Tan and Douglas C. Smith, found that those teens who are less satisfied with their lives and therefore seek out risky and exciting experiences, are the ones more likely to use multiple illicit substances regularly, including e-cigarettes. Additionally, found in the study, the participants’ attitude towards vaping also reflected how they viewed other substances.
on: Vapingpost
by: Diane Caruana
September 23rd, 2020