Poll Shows New York Voters Strongly Support Prohibiting Flavored E-Cigarettes and Protecting Kids
March 17, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New York voters are deeply concerned about youth use of e-cigarettes and strongly support ending the sale of flavored e-cigarette and vaping products, according to a poll released today by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Over two thirds of voters (70%) support the policy, including 61% who strongly support it. Support crosses political and demographic lines. (additional poll data here)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced language in his Executive Budget that would end the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal have been pushing similar legislation over the last several years. If enacted in the budget, the legislation would put into law the emergency regulations Gov. Cuomo announced in September but that have since been held up in court. The budget agreement is being worked out this week, and public health groups are pushing hard for the e-cigarette flavor ban to be included.
“Gov. Cuomo, Senator Hoylman and Assemblywoman Rosenthal continue to be leaders in combating tobacco use, especially among kids – and we strongly support their forceful actions to address the youth e-cigarette epidemic and protect New York kids,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “These poll results show that the public does, too. They want immediate action to stop the sale of these flavored e-cigarettes that are addicting a whole new generation of kids and threaten decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use.”
By a margin of over five to one, voters believe it is more important to reduce the number of kids who start using tobacco by prohibiting the sales of candy, fruit, menthol and mint-flavored e-cigarette and vaping products (77%), than to help smokers try to quit cigarettes by giving them access to the flavored e-cigarette and vaping products of their choice (15%).
Three-quarters (75%) of voters view vape shops and stores that exclusively sell e-cigarettes unfavorably, while 80% view e-cigarette companies unfavorably and 75% view vaping companies unfavorably.
There is widespread concern (88%) about e-cigarette and vaping among young people in the community, with 61% being very concerned. Consequently, there is also deep concern about these companies targeting kids. A full 9 in 10 are concerned that tobacco companies may be using candy, menthol, mint and fruit flavors to market tobacco products to young people, including 70% who are very concerned.
And there is no time to waste as the youth e-cigarette epidemic has gone from bad to worse. According to data from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (2019 NYTS), e-cigarette use among high school students nationwide increased to 27.5% in 2019 compared to 11.7% in 2017. Altogether more than 5.3 million middle and high school students now use e-cigarettes. And the evidence is clear that flavored e-cigarettes have fueled this epidemic – 97% of youth e-cigarette users report using a flavored product in the past month, and 70% cite flavors as the reason for their use.
The statistics in New York are equally concerning – from 2014 to 2018, e-cigarette use among New York high school students increased 160% (from 10.5% to 27.4%), and in 2018, 30.5% of New York high school students reported some form of tobacco product use.
“The evidence is clear that flavored e-cigarettes have fueled this epidemic – 97% of youth e-cigarette users report using a flavored product in the past month, and 70% cite flavors as the reason for their use,” Myers added. “The time for waiting is over. Policymakers across the nation must act now to stop Juul and other e-cigarette companies from targeting our nation’s kids with flavored, nicotine-loaded products that are addicting a new generation and threaten decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use. We look forward to working with Gov. Cuomo and the legislature to pass this legislation as quickly as possible while continuing the fight to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes.”
The poll was conducted by Global Strategy Group and comprised a survey of 605 likely voters in New York interviewed by telephone March 11-15, 2020.