New York City Bans Flavored Tobacco Products

by Dan

On October 27, 2010, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed into city law a prohibition of the sale of most forms of flavored tobacco products. Unlike the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration’s) recent flavored-cigarettes federal ban, the NYC ban includes cigars and smokeless tobacco.

The law specifically includes banning “chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice flavors.” Now the only flavors allowed are “tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen flavors.”

The adult smoking rate in New York City has fallen over the last few years, but the same can’t be said for public high school students. Flavored tobacco products are usually targeted at the younger population. Therefore, Mayor Bloomberg feels this might be the best way to quit smoking for them, as non-flavored tobacco products would not be as pleasant to smoke.

The penalty for breaking this law is up to $2,000 or having their tobacco-vending license suspended.

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