Key Points
- Country/Region: United States (Puerto Rico)
- Scope: Vaping devices, e-liquids, and cartridges (including flavored variants)
- Core restriction: Ban sales to under-21s of products with non-nicotine flavors/aromas
- Public-health framing: Youth nicotine addiction and withdrawal; respiratory harms including “popcorn lung”; brain development impacts up to age 25
- Enforcement: Department of Health empowered to regulate, fine, confiscate, and dispose of non-compliant products
2Firsts, Jan 29, 2026
According to a statement from the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, House Speaker Carlos Méndez and Rep. Pedro Julio Santiago announced the filing of House Bill P.C. 1070, which would prohibit sales to people under 21 of vaping devices, e-liquids, or cartridges featuring a flavor and/or aroma other than nicotine.
Méndez described e-cigarettes and vaporizers as an “epidemic” in the United States, arguing they are driving nicotine addiction among adolescents and that quitting can trigger withdrawal symptoms. He also referenced concerns associated with “popcorn lung,” medically known as bronchiolitis obliterans, as part of the rationale for restricting youth access.
Santiago said Puerto Rico already has a law banning sales of e-cigarettes to those under 21, but argued that the market has evolved with newer “vaporizers” that differ from e-cigarettes in being customizable, larger, and more powerful—allowing users to adjust the temperature of the liquids. He added that the liquids can contain varying nicotine concentrations and other substances such as propylene glycol and glycerin, and are often mixed with additional chemical compounds and aromas to increase appeal.
The statement cited brands commonly recognized in the local market—JUUL, Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Smok—and argued that diverse aromas make the products more attractive, posing heightened risks for teenagers and young people.
It also referenced the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noting that nicotine in vaping devices can harm the developing brain of adolescents and young adults, with brain development continuing up to age 25. The statement highlighted potential impacts on areas controlling attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
The text further argued that vaping products have been promoted as alternatives to traditional combustible cigarettes, but pointed to World Health Organization (WHO) information from 2014 stating that e-cigarettes or vaporizers contain nicotine and can be as addictive as tobacco. It also said short-term exposure to propylene glycol may irritate the eyes and respiratory system.
On local trends, the Puerto Rico Department of Health was cited as saying tobacco-use prevalence declined from 9.6% in 2019 to 8.5% in 2024, while flavored e-cigarettes and vaporizers represent a new regulatory challenge. The statement also listed multiple U.S. states that have banned flavored tobacco products (including New Jersey, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island) and others that have sharply limited flavor varieties (including Florida, Utah, Maryland, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, and Colorado).
The measure would create a new law to regulate vaporizer sales in Puerto Rico and would empower the Department of Health to issue regulations, set fines, and authorize the seizure and disposal of products that violate the initiative.
Image source: Metro.
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