Illegal E-cigarette Sales: U.S. Senator Questions Manufacturers

According to foreign media reports, on June 18, U.S. Senators questioned electronic cigarette manufacturers for using tactics similar to those employed by traditional tobacco companies to entice young people to purchase their products.

Electronic cigarettes, as an alternative to traditional cigarettes, do not contain tar and release nicotine vapor instead of smoke. The e-cigarette market is rapidly expanding in the U.S., having grown by approximately $10 billion last year.

Legislators and health experts are increasingly concerned that the unrestricted promotion and use of e-cigarettes glamorizes this addictive habit and leads to nicotine dependence among teenagers.

Democratic Senator John Rockefeller stated that although major e-cigarette manufacturers claim they target only adults, a significant number of young audiences can still easily access this information.

He also mentioned that advertisements published on social media, such as television and magazines, have a significant impact on teenagers.

In April of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided for the first time to expand its authority to cover tobacco and related products, such as e-cigarettes, and prohibit their sale to minors.