Columbus City Council votes on flavored tobacco ban

Dec.12.2022
Columbus City Council votes on flavored tobacco ban
Columbus Council to vote on ban of flavored tobacco sales; supporters and opponents weigh in on the issue.

The Columbus City Council will vote this week on a ban of flavored tobacco products within city limits, a topic of significant interest for both proponents and opponents of the ban.


If we are adults, you cannot tell adults what to do or not to do," said Ben Saleh, owner of Epic Puff, a tobacco and e-cigarette shop on North Street. "This is their life.


Salih expressed his hope that the ban would not be approved, as it would lead to the forced closure of businesses.


Epic Puff opened in October. Shortly thereafter, Saleh stated that he became aware of the proposed ban.


Columbus restricted firearms and items to the liquor license.


According to Saleh, if flavored tobacco products are taken off the shelves, 80% of the store's sales will disappear. If this happens, he and other small business owners will continue to protest.


We will gather together and may consider a class-action lawsuit," he said. "Consider that if I lost $200,000 in just my investment, not to mention the landlord fees of around $200,000 for the remaining lease, imagine everyone else. We're talking about millions of people here.


2FIRSTS will continue to provide updates on this issue, which will be available on the '2FIRSTSAPP'. Scan the QR code below to download the app.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

PMI Oral Products Chief Says Lack of Rules May Push Nicotine Pouch Market Into Illicit Trade
PMI Oral Products Chief Says Lack of Rules May Push Nicotine Pouch Market Into Illicit Trade
Nick Ricketts, President of Oral Products at Philip Morris International (PMI), told Logos Press that nicotine pouches should be brought under clear regulatory frameworks covering nicotine limits, flavor rules, age verification, sales controls and marketing standards, arguing that the absence of clear rules or blanket bans may push consumer demand into illegal or semi-legal channels.
Jul.06
UK Disposable Vape Ban Marks One Year as Adult Use Falls to 8% and Youth Use to 13%
UK Disposable Vape Ban Marks One Year as Adult Use Falls to 8% and Youth Use to 13%
One year after the UK ban on single-use disposable vapes took effect, YouGov data commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health shows that 13% of 11-17-year-old vapers and 8% of adult vapers now mainly use disposable products.
Jun.18
Haypp Report: Women Emerge as a Key Growth Driver in the UK Nicotine Pouch Market
Haypp Report: Women Emerge as a Key Growth Driver in the UK Nicotine Pouch Market
According to Haypp’s 2026 UK Nicotine Report, women are a key growth driver in the UK nicotine pouch market. Overall sales for Haypp and Northerner rose 60% year‑on‑year in 2025, but purchases by women surged 202%, versus 25% for men. Women’s share of consumers jumped from 22% to 40%. The report attributes this to discretion, perceived health benefits, and more gender‑neutral product positioning, suggesting future growth will come from a broader range of adult nicotine users.
Jul.01
How AI Is Rewriting the Talent Playbook for the Nicotine Industry: JTI’s Case
How AI Is Rewriting the Talent Playbook for the Nicotine Industry: JTI’s Case
AI is moving from a back-office tool to a core organizational capability in the nicotine industry. Based on JTI’s responses, this 2Firsts feature examines how AI is reshaping talent strategy, internal mobility, decision-making and human accountability as global tobacco companies compete in the shift toward new nicotine categories.
Jun.17
China Tobacco International HK Warns First-Half Revenue May Fall 25%-30%, Tobacco Leaf and Duty-Free Exposure Highlight Reliance on Traditional Tobacco
China Tobacco International HK Warns First-Half Revenue May Fall 25%-30%, Tobacco Leaf and Duty-Free Exposure Highlight Reliance on Traditional Tobacco
CTIHK expects first-half 2026 revenue to fall 25%-30%, mainly due to lower tobacco leaf imports and delayed cigarette shipments to China’s domestic duty-free market. Its 2025 revenue mix—nearly 90% from tobacco leaf-related businesses and less than 1% from new tobacco products—shows continued exposure to traditional supply chains and trade variables.
Jun.18
AIR Shares Drop 18.6% in Nasdaq Debut, Testing Hookah’s Move Toward Public Markets
AIR Shares Drop 18.6% in Nasdaq Debut, Testing Hookah’s Move Toward Public Markets
AIR Global’s Nasdaq debut under ticker AIIR ended with a 18.6% first-day decline, giving the global hookah industry a rare public-market reference point. Beyond one company’s share move, the listing raises a broader question: can a culturally rooted, fragmented and venue-based category evolve into a more scalable and investable consumer sector?
Special Report
May.19