Higher Taxes on E-cigarettes Could Drive Youth to Traditional Smoking

Sep.05.2022
Higher Taxes on E-cigarettes Could Drive Youth to Traditional Smoking
A study by Yale School of Public Health shows higher taxes on e-cigarettes may lead young users to switch to traditional cigarettes.

According to international reports, a recent study by the Yale School of Public Health suggests that imposing higher taxes on electronic cigarettes may encourage young electronic cigarette users to switch to traditional cigarettes. Connecticut currently imposes a tax of $4.35 on a pack of cigarettes - the highest in the country - and a 10% wholesale tax on open-system electronic cigarettes.


Health economist Michael Pesko from Georgia State University and Abigail Friedman from Yale University co-authored this study. They expressed their hope to reduce taxes on e-cigarettes. Pesko made this statement during a Wednesday speech on Connecticut Public Radio. However, mental health experts warn that understanding and addressing the factors that lead young people to use e-cigarettes is critical.


Earlier this year, the Connecticut chapter of the American Pediatric Association testified in support of a ban on flavored e-cigarette products. According to the APA, data shows that 70% of teenage e-cigarette users cite flavor as their reason for usage. (This bill has failed to pass for the third consecutive year in Connecticut.) The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that 27% of high school students in Connecticut use e-cigarettes.


Not only young people are using electronic cigarettes.


Gihan Samaranayaka, who works at an electronic cigarette shop in the capital of Connecticut, Hartford, says that older people are now coming in to purchase nicotine e-cigarettes with fruit juice flavors because they have been smoking for a long time.


Declaration/statement


This article contains excerpts or reprinted content from third-party sources, with copyright belonging to the original media outlet and author. If there is infringement, please contact us for removal. Any organization or individual who wishes to reproduce this content, please contact the author and do not reproduce it directly.



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.

Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing mandatory licensing for wholesale and retail trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products, with the system taking effect on October 1, 2026, and unlicensed operations banned from March 1, 2027, while vape and e-liquid retail may also face uncertainty from temporary regional sales-ban powers.
Jul.01
Altria’s USSTC to Close Nashville Plant and Shift Operations to Kentucky by 2028
Altria’s USSTC to Close Nashville Plant and Shift Operations to Kentucky by 2028
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), a subsidiary of Altria Group, announced plans to close its Nashville manufacturing facility by 2028 and consolidate production operations at a new facility in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Market
Jun.02
Special Report | Russian Vape Compromise Faces First Hurdles
Special Report | Russian Vape Compromise Faces First Hurdles
Russia’s regional vape-ban model is facing early legal and political tests, as Perm Krai moves ahead before federal legislation is fully adopted. The case highlights uncertainty over regional authority, concerns from business groups about market fragmentation, and the risk that pressure against regional bans could revive calls for a stricter nationwide prohibition.
Industry Insight
May.28
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
BofA Upgrades Imperial Brands, Says Market Overreacted to Australia Slump
Bank of America upgraded Imperial Brands to “buy” from “neutral,” saying investors have overreacted to the tobacco group’s Australian business downturn and that the share-price pullback has created a more attractive entry point.
Jul.16
2Firsts Interview | InterTabac 2026 Adapts to a More Complex Tobacco and Nicotine Market
2Firsts Interview | InterTabac 2026 Adapts to a More Complex Tobacco and Nicotine Market
As InterTabac 2026 approaches, Sabine Loos, Managing Director of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe, tells 2Firsts that global tobacco trade fairs are evolving beyond product display. With new nicotine categories, shifting regulation and more complex supply chains reshaping the industry, InterTabac is positioning itself as a platform for market insight, regulatory discussion and global business connection.
Special Report
Jul.02
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
2Firsts Data | China’s U.S. Vape Exports Have Yet to Regain Previous Growth Momentum in H1 2026, but Hardware Grew 15.2% and 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Rose 234.7%
China’s vape exports to the U.S. reached approximately $1.58 billion in the first half of 2026, remaining broadly stable from a year earlier but still below previous growth momentum. 2Firsts’ analysis of China Customs data shows that the U.S. market has not simply returned to its previous trajectory after the enforcement shock and inventory-driven swings of 2025. Instead, export momentum is shifting across product categories. Vaping devices and atomization hardware increased 15.2% year over year, while 6-methyl nicotine-related and other nicotine substitute products surged 234.7%. Meanwhile, traditional nicotine-containing vaping products continued to face pressure.
Jul.22