Njoy stops selling flavors, anti smoking groups chalk up another victory

Njoy announced today they will no longer carry flavors in the US market, save for tobacco and menthol. Why? Because that's what the law requires for regular cigarettes and they are trying to cut the feet out from under the insane argument that "Electronic Cigarettes are marketed to kids".

While I understand their reasoning, it infuriates me to see Njoy and the others forced to cave. Politically it's probably a good move. Anti smoking activists have convinced people that if something tastes good, it must be for kids. But I disagree and I grow tired of seeing this argument not only repeated but successful time and time again.

Chalk up another victory for drug company funded activist anti smoking groups. They are proving the old adage "if you just keep repeating it, it becomes the truth."

Why is this agrument making sense to people? An ecigarette that costs $100 is for kids because it comes in flavors?

Njoy said:

Though electronic cigarettes have a price point generally considered beyond the reach of most youth and there is not widespread evidence of the products being used by underage smokers, a number of pertinent issues have been raised regarding underage persons, such as the appeal of various flavors.

Read more: NJOY to Discontinue Flavors, Takes Additional Steps to Prevent Underage Electronic Cigarette Use | Press Release - Dec 10

Will it work? NO, of course not. It didn't work for tobacco and it's not going to work now. It's a "feel good" argument people can get behind and feel like they are making a difference. It was the same argument against the cartoon camel and now it's being taken to the extreme with flavored cigarettes and now ecigs too.

Flavored Cigarettes and ecigs encourage kids to smoke, they say, and that's bad behavior we must stop at all costs. If it's flavored, it's for kids.

Are flavored condoms marketed to children? What do we do to discourage underage sex in the schools? The tax payers give them cherry flavored condoms. Think I'm joking?

The New Mexico Health Department is standing behind a sex-education teacher in Santa Fe who encouraged ninth-graders to taste flavored condoms.

According to a report in the Santa Fe New Mexican, parent Lisa Gallegos said that when her 15-year-old daughter balked at putting a condom in her mouth, instructor Tony Escudero told her, "Come on, sweetie, have a little fun."

Teacher gives 15 year olds flavored condoms state supports her

Where is the outrage for that? Why do we not ban flavored condoms? Won't that discourage children from having underaged sex?

The argument for higher taxes was "it will keep kids from buying them." Why is that argument so quickly forgotten by the very people who made it in the first place? Because the safety of our children is not their primary concern. If it were, they'd be out in front of the schools ticketing kids, or demanding more be done to pull the business licenses of people who sell cigarettes to children.

As Njoy CEO Jack Leadbeater pointed out so very well:

“No one can ever get 100% of consumers to comply with the intended use of its products all the time. For instance, the average combustible tobacco cigarette smoker begins at the age of 13, and 90 percent start before they turn 18 years old, despite all the valiant efforts to prevent underage smoking,”

All the laws, all the regulations, all the education and all the programs have not put a dent in underage smoking. You can say it's flavors all you like, you can say it's cartoon characters, you can say it's flashy packaging, but ask any smoker and they will tell you flavors and packaging are not why they started smoking.

And ask any teenager and they'll tell you cigarettes are easy to come by. They don't need to buy expensive ecigarettes to look cool, they just go to the local gas station and buy a pack for $5. Perhaps even, as it is in my neighborhood, all they need do is visit the store across the street from the police station.

Again, I urge everyone to contact your law makers and express to them how outrageous this new belief is. Flavors are not just for kids. What is that term? The "slippery slope?" If we let this argument continue what is next? What will be safe for adults to enjoy that tastes good?

I'm against underage smoking, cigarettes or their electronic counterparts. But I don't think making flavors unavailable will do any good. And I don't see any kids vaping.

I do applaud Njoy for the other steps they have taken. Child proof packaging, checking ids, making retailers conform to legal smoking age requirements for sales and labeling products as "intended for smokers over the legal smoking age" are all good things.

I'm just very sad that on yet another front, ecigarettes are being victimized by yet another anti smoking activist ploy that has little basis in fact and no scientific data to back it up.