American Minneapolis Raises Minimum Price of E-Cigarettes to $25 and Bans New Tobacco Stores Near Schools

Key Points:

·Price control: The minimum selling price of e-cigarettes is set at $25 per unit, effective immediately. 

·Location restrictions: Tobacco retail outlets are prohibited within a 500-meter radius of schools, policy to be implemented on August 1st. 

·Policy goal: Interventions to address the 14% e-cigarette usage rate among youth in the city. 

·Policy continuity: Following the 2024 minimum pricing of cigarettes at $15, this is another tobacco control measure. 

·Expected effect: By using price leverage and channel control, reducing youth exposure to tobacco opportunities.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report from Mprnews on July 10th, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed two new smoking regulations: raising the minimum price of e-cigarettes to $25 and prohibiting new tobacco shops from opening near schools. Councilmember Katie Cashman stated during the meeting that this move aims to align e-cigarette policies with the city's restrictions on other tobacco products to prevent youth smoking. Co-sponsor of the ordinance, Councilmember Aurin Chowdhury, pointed out that this will reduce the health risks associated with smoking, including respiratory damage and mental health issues.

"We are reducing the opportunities for teenagers to come into contact with tobacco by increasing prices, which is the most effective method."

Mayor Qiao emphasized during the vote. This is another anti-smoking measure following the city's decision in 2024 to raise the minimum price of a single pack of cigarettes to $15 and prohibit stores from offering sample smoking and accepting coupons.

A 2023 survey of teenage tobacco use in Minnesota shows that nearly 14% of students surveyed had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. Emily Anderson, policy director of the Minnesota Non-Smokers Association, believes that new regulations will effectively protect the youth and community groups who are targeted by the tobacco industry.

"Teenagers are highly sensitive to prices. If a product exceeds their ability to pay, the likelihood of them trying, becoming addicted to, and continuing to use it into adulthood decreases significantly. Price factors can also encourage current users to quit smoking and have a significant motivating effect on hesitant smokers."

Anderson explained.

The city of St. Paul made history in 2021 by implementing a minimum cigarette price policy, the first of its kind in the United States. Compared to tax increases, setting a minimum selling price can reduce economic losses for tobacco retailers. A spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the mayor plans to sign the bill. The e-cigarette price increase will take effect immediately after the mayor signs it, while the tobacco shop location restrictions will be implemented starting on August 1st.