FDA's Lack of Action is Fueling Youth Vaping Epidemic

As an owner of a small liquor and spirits store, full compliance with the laws and guidelines around sales and distribution was at the core of my business.

Nothing was more important than preventing underage sales and protecting the health of our children from early, illegal alcohol and tobacco use. I am concerned that lack of enforcement from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) around the sale of flavored, disposable vapes—most of which are illegal—is letting far too many retailers skirt the rules and is putting the health of our kids at great risk.

Multiple news outlets including the New York Times, AP and NPR have covered the gaping lapse
in enforcement of these illegal, disposable e-cigarettes by the FDA. These products, most of which are manufactured in China, are clearly being targeted to youth. They’re designed to be “beginner friendly” and come in colorful packages and fruity, kid-friendly flavors like pink lemonade, gummy bear and strawberry lemon that are pushed on social media. The products are getting stronger, cheaper and larger with many advertising 5,000 to 6,000 puffs from a single device. The increasing size and strength and lower price of these disposable, flavored vapes compared to cigarettes has nearly tripled the purchasing power for price sensitive youth, fueling a youth
health crisis. It’s imperative that the FDA act now to redouble its efforts to regulate this market and enforce existing regulations to protect the health of our children.

Without marked improvement by the FDA on the enforcement front, even more children will
pick up illegal vapes and put themselves at risk of addiction and imperil their health. Congress must lean on the FDA to properly regulate the disposable e-cigarette market starting with the removal of illegal products from retail shelves NOW.