Altria to stop selling Some E-Cig Brands that appeal to kids

Altria to Stop Selling Some E-Cigarette Brands That Appeal to Youths

https://nyti.ms/2JfftIF?smid=nytcore-ios-share

WASHINGTON — Under pressure to curb vaping among young people, the tobacco giant Altria announced on Thursday that it would discontinue most of its flavored e-cigarettes and stop selling some brands altogether.

The company also said, for the first time, that it would support federal legislation to raise the age to 21 for the purchase of any tobacco and vaping product.

“There’s plenty of evidence that shows that e-cigarette use leads to combustible cigarette use among youth, and this year combustible use by high school students is up for the first time in 20 years,” he added. “So if Juul is getting kids hooked and they end up switching to Marlboro, Altria wins.”............

The full WSJ article was reprinted in our Canadian newspaper The Waterloo Regional Record on page B5 on October 26, 2018. At the present time, Ontario allows anyone over age 19 to purchase vaping products. There has been no response so far from my MP, Bardish Chagger, or the Canadian Minister of Health in Ottawa regarding further regulation of vapes. 

In my opinion, and in the opinion of experts, the vaping companies have been overwhelmingly successful in spreading dangerously addicting nicotine delivery systems to our children. 

I implore all of you to contact your MPs and MPPs to demand strict regulations of all vaping products. Local municipalities have assigned their health units to monitor the stores that are selling to minors. A major dealer here in Canada, BAT Imperial Tobacco have unashamedly launched their product VYPE without a care in the world. 

Folks, we are going down the same road we faced with tobacco advertising and promotions we fought against 25 years ago. Please ad your thoughts and pictures of signage for VYPE and if you see anyone under age 19 who successfully purchases VYPE via retail route.

Thanks,

Terry Polevoy, MD