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Legislation would only permit the sale of flavored nicotine products in retailers that restrict entry to those 21 years and older
DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Health and Insurance today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Yadira Caraveo and Speaker KC Becker that would restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products to stores that only allow customers who are 21 years of age or older to enter. The vote was 7-3.
“Flavored nicotine products are developed and targeted to our youth to get them addicted for life to dangerous chemicals,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “As a pediatrician, I’ve seen first hand how these products are harming our children and leading to long-term health conditions. Youth vaping is a public health crisis, and we need to use all the data-driven tools we have to keep these products out of our schools, classrooms and the hands of our youth.”
“It sickens me when I hear my son come home from school and describe the vaping products he sees on the floor of his classroom at school and in the hands of his classmates,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “We need common sense restrictions on the sale of flavored nicotine products so that fewer Colorado children are introduced to these sleek vaping devices that are marketed towards children. We shouldn’t stand by while a predatory industry profits off the addiction of our kids to their harmful products.”
HB20-1319 would ban the sale of flavored nicotine products in any store that allows entry to consumers under the age of 21. The prohibition includes flavor enhancers and any product that a responsible person would conclude has a flavor that doesn’t taste like tobacco. Violations of would incur an initial $250 fine, increasing to higher amounts with each additional violation.
Flavored nicotine products are targeted at our youth. Nicotine product manufacturers know that if they can addict a young person to their products, then they will have life-time customers. By restricting access to flavored nicotine products, the state can help prevent more young people from becoming addicted to these dangerous chemicals.