68% of Vermont Voters Support Flavored Tobacco Sales Ban, Bill to Be Submitted to House Next Year

68% of Vermont voters support a ban on flavored tobacco sales, with the bill to be submitted to the House next year. Most voters are concerned about youth tobacco addiction.

According to a report released by Vermontbiz on November 29, a new poll conducted by the "Vermont Tobacco-Free Alliance" and "Keep Kids Tobacco-Free Campaign" found that 68% of Vermont voters support legislation to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including but not limited to fruit-flavored and candy-flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, and other flavored cigarettes.

The relevant bill (S.18) has passed the Vermont Senate and will be submitted to the Vermont House for review in January 2024.

The poll found that the call to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products comes from a broad range of voters in Vermont, including those with different political views and from various regions of the state. Tina Zuck from the American Heart Association stated that 79% of Vermonters are concerned about youth smoking and the use of e-cigarettes or other tobacco products in their communities.

Dr. Faricy, a pediatrician in Vermont, stated:

“Pediatricians, parents, and schools are still working hard to support many adolescents who are nicotine-dependent. Young people tell us that part of the reason they start using e-cigarettes is that the flavors are appealing and make the products more attractive.”

It is reported that this survey was conducted by the research company Expedition Strategies, which interviewed a total of 500 voters in Vermont who are likely to participate in the 2024 election. The interviews took place from November 14 to 19, 2023. The overall margin of error for the results is ±4.38%.