New York suing major vape companies for millions over marketing to kids

• New York is suing over a dozen vape manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The lawsuit accuses them of illegally targeting adolescents by selling flavored nicotine vapes with appealing names like “strawberry donut” and “cotton candy,” despite such sales being illegal in the state.
• New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that the vaping industry is using tactics similar to Big Tobacco to make nicotine seem cool and get kids hooked, creating a health crisis.
• The American Vapor Manufacturers Association called the lawsuit “misguided” and argued it places an undue burden on companies trying to comply with the law, potentially causing economic harm to the industry.

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New York is suing more than a dozen vape manufacturers, distributors and retailers. In the lawsuit, the state accused some of the largest e-cigarette companies of sparking an epidemic among American kids and teens.

What are the vaping companies accused of?

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit on Thursday, Feb. 20, She said these companies illegally target adolescents through subliminal tactics by selling vape flavors that are appealing to them.

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What is the law in New York?

Selling flavored nicotine vapes is illegal in New York. However, the products are still reportedly available at some smoke shops and corner stores in New York City.

How are they allegedly marketing to kids?

New York officials claim in the lawsuit that e-cigarette distributors are breaking the law by advertising vaping products to kids with names and flavors like “strawberry donut,” “cotton candy” and “tropical rainbow blast” among others.

What is New York’s attorney general saying?

“The vaping industry is taking a page out of Big Tobacco’s playbook: They’re making nicotine seem cool, getting kids hooked, and creating a massive health crisis in the process,” state Attorney General James said.

What does the lawsuit seek?

New York is seeking millions of dollars in fines and to ban the companies listed in the lawsuit from selling flavored vapes in the state. The plaintiffs also want the defendants to issue “public corrective statements” about the dangers vaping poses to people’s health.

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How is the vaping industry responding?

The American Vapor Manufacturers Association responded to the lawsuit in a statement. The organization called the lawsuit “misguided.”

The group said it puts an “undue burden” on vaping companies working to follow the law. They argued the lawsuit risks causing the industry economic harm.