Atlanta City Council Passes Law Banning Vape Shops Near Schools

Key Points:

·The city council of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States has passed a law prohibiting the sale of e-cigarette products near schools. 

·In 2024, nearly 6% of American middle and high school students were using e-cigarettes. 

·The candy flavors and touchscreen features of e-cigarettes are seen as appealing to children. 

·The law aims to reduce the risk of nicotine addiction in children and protect their health.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by TCD on July 17, as reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta City Council in the state of Georgia unanimously passed a law prohibiting retailers from selling e-cigarette products, such as disposable e-cigarettes, near elementary and middle schools.

Although it is illegal for people under the age of 21 to purchase and use e-cigarettes, critics argue that using candy-flavored marketing is targeting children.

Some disposable e-cigarettes even come equipped with touch screens that can display applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X, and WeChat.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in 2024, the U.S. FDA found that nearly 6% - more than 1.6 million - middle and high school students nationwide are using e-cigarette products.

This proportion has decreased compared to 2023, when a report stated that 8% of school-aged children were using e-cigarettes.

The main proponent of the bill, city councilor Liliana Bakhtiari, stated:

“This law is in place solely to protect our children.”

Georgia attempted to reduce the use of e-cigarettes by children through legislation, but only achieved limited success. In 2021, the state raised the age requirement for purchasing e-cigarettes from 18 to 21. In 2023, "using e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas became a misdemeanor," according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

According to the UK National Health Service, e-cigarettes are dangerous for children because their brains are more susceptible to becoming addicted to nicotine in e-cigarettes, as "evidence suggests that the developing brain is more sensitive to its addictive effects".

In addition, the Royal Children's Hospital in Australia points out that:

“Many e-cigarettes contain known carcinogens, inhaling these cancer-causing chemicals can increase the risk of developing cancer. In the long term, using e-cigarettes can also increase the risk of developing heart disease.”