Columbus Passes Flavored Vape and Tobacco Ban
Time:2022-12-20
Views:382
The Columbus, Ohio City Council voted Monday to prohibit sales of flavored vaping products
and tobacco, making it one of just a few major cities between the east and west coasts to
do so. The flavor ban passed unanimously (7-0), despite strong opposition from vaping
businesses and other local retailers.
The ordinance will take effect Jan. 1, 2024, assuming Mayor Andrew Ginther approves it. He
has already indicated strong support for the law.
The new ordinance bans sales of all flavored vaping products—with or without nicotine—as
well as other low-risk flavored products like nicotine pouches and snus. It also bans
flavored combustible tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. There is an exemption
for hookah tobacco consumed inside licensed hookah bars.
The bill was promoted by the Coalition to End Tobacco Targeting, an astroturf group created
and funded by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ lobbying arm. TFK’s involvement will be
familiar to vaping advocates from most cities or states that have faced recent flavor ban
attempts.
The Coalition ran the process from beginning to end—setting the agenda, controlling the
message, disseminating facts and figures, and encouraging the local news outlets, city
health department, schools, churches and community groups to view the group as a helpful
partner.
With a population of over 900,000 residents, Columbus is the largest city in Ohio (the
seventh-most populous state). It is the state capital, and home to Ohio State University
and six Fortune 500 companies.
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