According to CBS News (CBS) on July 10, New York Mayor Eric Adams has filed a lawsuit in federal court to force distributors to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes that appeal to children.
Adams said he no longer wants to see middle and high school students using e-cigarettes and cigarettes. He believes that some e-cigarette products contain as much nicotine as 175 to 350 cigarettes.
“Those who claim these products are safe are wrong, these products contain nicotine, a toxic and highly addictive chemical that is particularly harmful to the brains and bodies of teenagers.”
The lawsuit names four Distributors, including Magellan Technology Inc and Demand Vape of Buffalo, as well as Queens-based Empire Vape Distributors and Brooklyn-based Star Vape.
Officials said they sold to retail e-cigarette and tobacco shops, convenience stores and directly to consumers via the Internet. City police have confiscated thousands of dollars worth of these products.
Sylvia Hinds-Radix, legal counsel, said:
“These flavors, which include fruit, candy, dessert flavors, are clearly designed to appeal to young people.”
The lawsuit accuses the distributors of violating city, state and federal laws, including federal RICO statutes that are often used against organized crime gangs. The adoption of the law for e-cigarette distributors shows the antipathy of the anti-e-cigarette community towards the product.
Meredith Berman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes, told the media:
“RICO statutes are there to go after bloodthirsty profiteers, and these companies are gangsters. They use taste to get kids addicted.”
The lawsuit seeks millions of dollars in damages. CBS tried to get in touch with the distributors accused in the lawsuit but did not immediately receive a response.
Eric Adams has been the 110th mayor of New York City since 2022 and is a Democrat. In November 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough president, becoming the first African American to hold the position, and was reelected in November 2017. On November 17, 2020, Adams announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City and won a landslide victory in the general election.
References:
【1】Mayor Eric Adams files federal lawsuit against 4 e-cigarette distributors