California Legislature Passes Bill to Ban Flavored Vaping Products

In addition to flavored vaping products, Senate Bill 793 also bans the sale of flavored smokeless tobacco, little cigars, and menthol cigarettes, while exempting flavored hookah products, pipe tobacco, and premium cigars.

 

State Senator Jerry Hill, who introduced the bill, said: “By using candy, fruit, and other enticing flavors, the tobacco industry has used its playbook to lure a new generation into nicotine addiction while keeping long-term users hooked.” “SB 793 breaks Big Tobacco’s grip.”

 

Teenagers are a major force behind e-cigarette use

 

Meanwhile, a new study of U.S. high school students found that thrill-seeking teenagers are more likely to use a variety of illicit substances, including tobacco and vaping products. Researchers Kevin Tan and Douglas C. Smith found that adolescents who are dissatisfied with life and seek adventurous and exciting experiences are more likely to regularly use multiple illicit substances, including e-cigarettes​​. In addition, the researchers reported that participants’ attitudes toward e-cigarettes also reflected how they viewed other substances.

 

Similarly, other recent studies have found that personality factors such as high neuroticism, curiosity, and the “cool factor” play a major role in leading teenagers to start smoking. This reflects the argument made by tobacco harm reduction experts, who have long pointed out that the availability of flavors is not the main reason young people smoke; without safer alternatives, those who are inclined to smoke would smoke anyway.