Alaska Proposed Tax on Vaping Products and Raised Purchasing Age to 21 yr old

Alaska State Senate President Gary Stevens has introduced a bill to reduce vaping among teens, seeking to tax vaping products statewide and raise the legal age to buy. Currently, the regulated age in Alaska to purchase vaping products is 19 years old, and Gary Stevens tried to extend it to 21 years old to reduce the rising trend of e-cigarette use.

Alaska Government Mike Dunleavy had previously vetoed a similar bill, causing controversy. Gary Stevens said more regulations should be made to reduce tobacco use rates in Alaska, especially among Alaskan youth. The latest state tobacco report released by the state health department last year showed a sharp increase in youth use of vaping products, nearly offsetting a decline in smoking rates. As a result, the Legislature passed a bill introduced by Gary Stevens last year, which would impose a 35% tax on the wholesale price of vaping products. However, Mike Dunleavy opposed the tax imposed by the bill.

Gary Stevens stated that taxes effectively reduce tobacco use by stopping young people from smoking and encouraging adults to quit. This year's bill is different from last year, collecting a 25% tax on the retail price of products rather than the wholesale price.

Gary Steven's bill has four co-sponsors in the Senate's bipartisan majority coalition, including Majority Leader Cathy Giessel and an Anchorage Republican who is an advanced practice registered nurse.

The news is originally published by the Alaska Beacon, an independent, nonpartisan news organization that covers the Alaska state government.

Reference: Alaska Senate president makes new pitch to tax e-cigarette product and discourage youth vaping