© 2024
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
An update has been released for the Android version of the WAMC App that addresses performance issues. Please check the Google Play Store to download and update to the latest version.

Cuomo Announces Action To Ban Flavored Vape Products

Vaping
WAMC file photo

New York Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker is recommending a ban on flavored vaping products. He called the rising use of e-cigarettes among young people a public health crisis.     
“We saw this with tobacco, we saw this decades ago, we don’t need to repeat history. We need to tackle this right now and do it fast.”
 
The recommendation comes as governments grapple with how to deal with the products that frequently contain nicotine and have been linked to at least 6 deaths and more than 450 illnesses nationwide.
 
Joining Zucker at a press conference Sunday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the recommendation would be made to the state’s Public Health and Health Planning Council, which has the authority to issue an emergency declaration.
 
 
“Dr. Zucker is going to go to that council in the next few days, recommend to them that they immediately ban flavored vaping products and e-cigarettes except tobacco and menthol.”

Cuomo has directed state police to crackdown on vendors who sell vaping products to individuals under the age of 18, and said he would push legislation to ban marketing of e-cigarettes to teens and children.
 
 
In November, New York’s smoking and vaping age will increase to 21.

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
Related Content