Thursday, March 23, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Business

Modified flavor ban would exempt pipe tobacco, expensive cigars and onsite hookah lounges

Jim Franco by Jim Franco
August 8, 2019
in Business, Government, News
Reading Time: 4 mins read

ALBANY — The county Legislature has modified the controversial ban on flavored tobacco products to exempt flavored pipe tobacco, flavored cigars that cost more than $10 each and tobacco used on-site at existing hookah lounges.

Still included in the ban are menthol cigarettes and all e-cigarette liquid that has any flavor other than tobacco. (Read the legislation at the end of this story)

The Legislature is expected to call for a public hearing on the modified law on Monday, Aug. 12. If approved, the public hearing will be on Sept. 24.

The ban, first introduced in March, has met considerable opposition from convenience store owners and the owners of what is known as “vape shops,” those who sell e-cigarette liquid and the devices used to turn the liquid into vapor.

It was slated for a vote of the full Legislature last month but was pulled at the last minute.

Albany County already prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering a store that sells flavored tobacco products for e-cigarettes, and that prohibition makes it impractical for most convenient stores to sell e-liquid or other flavored tobacco products.

Banning all sales of menthol cigarettes, though, is what riled the New York Association of Convenience Stores. That organization represents come 1,600 stores across the state and, in an advertising blitz, said it’s not just about the pack of cigarettes but also about all the other products a person purchases during a single stop. The ban in Albany County, it said, would just force customers to shop at stores in adjacent counties and not do anything to meet the bill’s objective.

The 16 sponsors of the bill claim flavored tobacco products are what initially draws people, at a young age, to tobacco use and once initiated, it doesn’t take long for a person to become addicted to nicotine.

“As tobacco companies well know, menthol, in particular, cools and numbs the throat to reduce throat irritation and make the smoke feel smoother, making menthol cigarettes an appealing option for youth who are initiating tobacco use,” according to the legislation.

The legislation also points out the attraction of, and dangers inherent to, the use of flavored e-cigarettes by today’s youth.

“The 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey cites research showing that youth and young adults identify flavors as a primary reason for e-cigarette use,” according to the legislation. “Given the highly addictive nature of nicotine, it is not surprising that high school students who were current flavored e-cigarette users reported an increase in their frequency of vaping.”

According to the legislation, some 85 percent of black smokers use menthol cigarettes and the number of high school students vaping has increased from 12 percent in 2017 to 21 percent in 2018.

“There is a terrible youth vaping crisis but this proposed banning of all flavored tobacco, E-liquids and menthol cigarettes in Albany county impacts all adults and is not focused on those who are under 21 and vaping,” said Legislator Paul Burgdorf, R-Colonie. “It bans the sale of legal products in Albany County to those of any age, and would cost Albany County millions of sales tax dollars. There are adults who vape who are using it as a substitute for smoking carcinogen laden cigarettes; taking their preferred anti-smoking substitute away is like taking methadone away from a heroin addict. New York state just banned all cigarette, E liquid and tobacco sales to those under 21. Any restrictions should be considered on a statewide basis, and not just effect Albany County residents, small businesses, and taxpayers. We need a statewide solution to youth vaping which actually reduces under age demand.”

Reputable vape store owners say the majority of their customers are adults who use a form of e-cigarettes to wean themselves off highly addictive cigarettes.

The legislation would still require retailers to purchase a license to sell tobacco in Albany County.

Legislator Mark Grimm, R-Guilderland, who is also against the legislation, said the Legislature will likely vote on Monday to bring this version of the bill to a public hearing but that the language may change before the actual public hearing in September. A flaw in the process that is, he said, “unfair to legislators, the public and the media.”

“Everyone is for protecting children but nobody is out there giving this stuff to kids. We were ahead of the state on banning cigarettes until 21 and there are enough regulations already in place,” he said. “This would prohibit all adults from purchasing any flavored tobacco and that’s why there is so much opposition to it.”

 

Flavor Ban 7.22.19 by jfranco17410 on Scribd

Tags: Albany County Legislatureflavored tobaccoLegislator Paul BurgdorfMark Grimmtobacco ban
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

COLONIE LIBRARY: It’s time for Trivia Bingo

Next Post

THE 24-HOUR SHIFT: Support foster families, MYOB

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

Voorheesville Public Library news: Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon

March 23, 2023

Guilderland Public Library news: The Music of Burt Bacharach

March 23, 2023

Bethlehem Public Library news: Go on a library expedition

March 23, 2023

OBITUARY: Jane Ellen Streiff Spelich of Delmar

March 23, 2023

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter March 8th – March 15th

March 19, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter March 8th – March 15th

March 18, 2023

Eva Marie Saint, the Academy Award-winning actress, started her path to fame here

March 15, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter March 1st – March 8th

March 12, 2023

Voorheesville Public Library news: Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon

March 23, 2023

Guilderland Public Library news: The Music of Burt Bacharach

March 23, 2023

Bethlehem Public Library news: Go on a library expedition

March 23, 2023

OBITUARY: Jane Ellen Streiff Spelich of Delmar

March 23, 2023
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Legal Notices Portal

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2022
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949