Recently, according to a report by KITV, a Hawaii media outlet, the state's bill to ban flavored tobacco products (HB511) did not get scheduled for a hearing before March 23rd. This means that the bill will not continue to move forward in the state legislature's agenda.
81% of teenagers use flavored tobacco products.
Advocates of the bill claim that Hawaii is in the midst of a "youth vaping crisis" and argue that it is essential to move the bill forward in order to protect young people. This comes in response to the bill being postponed by the legislature.
According to the legislation, 81% of adolescents who have used tobacco products reported that flavored tobacco was their first choice.
According to the 2019 Hawaii Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 59% of high school students and 38% of middle school students in Hawaii have used mint-flavored tobacco products.
Nikkya Taliaferro, a member of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, believes that if young people are attracted to these enticing flavors, the tobacco industry will have a new demographic of smokers to continue their harmful business.
Therefore, it is evident that the flavors of tobacco products are appealing to young people.
Previously reported by 2FIRSTS, an electronic cigarette store owner in Hawaii believes that classifying flavored tobacco devices as illegal will only increase black market sales, resulting in children purchasing the electronic cigarette products they need from these sources.
An industry expert added that some adult smokers rely on e-cigarettes to quit traditional cigarettes. However, lawmakers reiterated that the ban will apply to flavored products, while adults will still be able to purchase unflavored e-cigarettes.
The new bill is being regarded with hope.
Currently, the legislation designed to ban flavored tobacco products has not passed through a hearing. Advocates of the bill are hopeful for Senate Bill 1447, which proposes to once again allow each county to enact its own tobacco regulations, overturning the legislation from 2018.
According to Talia Flores, "In the past five years, legislation specifically regarding tobacco has been under the control of the state government, and during these five years, they have not passed any laws that would help protect Hawaii's youth.
Bill Status | Source: Hawaii State Legislature
According to a search by 2FIRSTS on the official website of the Hawaii State Legislature, SB 1447 was reviewed by the Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPC) Committee on March 22 and will now be submitted for consideration by the Hawaii Finance Committee (FIN).
Smoke-free Children's Movement | Source: Smoke-free Children's Movement Official Website
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a US-based non-profit membership organization that advocates for reducing tobacco consumption. It has been referred to as a leading anti-tobacco organization by The New York Times. The organization's mission is to change public attitudes towards tobacco and promote effective policies to reduce tobacco use and save lives, as stated in its self-introduction.
Related Reading:
Hawaii to Reinstate Flavored Tobacco Ban; Experts Warn it Could Lead to an Expansion of the E-Cigarette Black Market.
Reference:
A proposed bill in Hawaii that aimed to prohibit the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco products has failed to pass. The bill, which had originally gained support from anti-smoking advocates and health officials, was struck down, much to their disappointment. This decision has been met with criticism from those who believe that flavored tobacco products are targeted towards children and young adults, thereby increasing the likelihood of addiction and tobacco use. The debate surrounding the availability of flavored tobacco products is ongoing, particularly as the use of e-cigarettes has grown in popularity and concerns about youth vaping continue to be raised.
HB 551 Bill Text
The official website of the Smoke-free Children's Movement.
SB 1447 Bill
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