Author: Bill Tarling

“In their never-ending quest to find the next most dangerous flavour in eliquid, researchers with an anti-vape agenda have now declared that chocolate is “particularly harmful”. The paper has been conveniently published at the same time Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, demands Connecticut bans all flavours of e-liquid. Myers and Tong’s call comes as the America Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology published “E-cigarettes and health risks”. “All 10 flavors tested caused some level of toxicity in the cells lining the lungs,” the Australian and American authors write, repeating the methodological shortcomings from previous work looking at three types of apply eliquids where flavour extract was applied to cell cultures in petri dishes. “Some contained as many as 15 chemicals,” they add as if the simple mention of the word “chemicals” ought to send shudders through the spine of the reader. This is one more study that fails to appreciate relative harm and purposefully conflates the findings to support an ideological outcome. While the paper will have little traction in the UK, it will be used by the likes of Myers in the States to support the ongoing attack on vaping and by other bad actors within the World Health Organization.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Then They Came For Chocolate

“Big Tobacco is winning big. And no, that’s not just because the giants are selling more cigarettes and rolling tobacco. They’re also making serious gains in the vaping market. A quick look at the winning brands says it all. Vype (BAT), Logic (JTI) and Altria-backed Juul have all enjoyed substantial growth. Juul was a particular winner, adding an extra £16.9m in sales [Nielsen 52 w/e 9 January 2021]. Meanwhile, Vype is up 59% or £16.5m and remains the market leader, while Logic has grown 34% or £9.2m. During lockdowns, there has been a major channel shift away from specialist stores, which have been forced to close. These outlets now account for just 20% to in-store spend, says Kantar, down from 41% the previous year. “As they fell into the category of ‘non-essential’ shops, adult vapers have had to look elsewhere to stock up on e-liquids and devices, turning to trusted local [convenience] shops and supermarkets,” says Lyle Mitchley, reduced risk products and brand portfolio manager of JTI UK.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Big wins for Big Tobacco: vaping category report 2021

“A proposal to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in Minnesota has resurfaced in the Legislature. House Bill 904, which cleared a House committee Wednesday, comes with renewed backing of those wanting to address health disparities across the state. The measure would prohibit retailers from selling flavored tobacco and related products, including menthol cigarettes. Supporters also said the move would address the dangers of vaping”

ARTICLE LINK:   MN House Panel Advances Flavored Tobacco Ban

“The United States Postal Service (USPS) is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register its rules for mailing electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products today. The unpublished rule states that the prohibition on mailing ENDS will apply immediately “on and after” the date of the final rule. However, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which placed ENDS under the PACT Act, was enacted on Dec. 27, 2020, and becomes effective 90 days after enactment (March 27, 2021). Under the USPO rule, the agency will mail vapor products under narrowly defined circumstances”

ARTICLE LINK:   U.S. Post Office to Publish ENDS Mailing Rules Today

“West Hollywood is banning the sale of flavored tobacco products as well as the use of tobacco coupons and discounts. The city council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve the ban. The city is now the fourth jurisdiction in California with a tobacco coupon ban, including Santa Barbara and Alameda counties and the city of Oakland. The ban on tobacco coupons starts March 16, while the ban on sales of flavored tobacco products starts Sept. 16.”

ARTICLE LINK:   West Hollywood to ban sale of flavored tobacco products

“In line with HSE protocols, smoking or the use of electronic cigarettes will not be permitted anywhere on the Mercy campus in the future. Carol Hunter, who is the operations director of the Mercy University Hospital, is pleased with their new initiative. “We want to support both our patients and staff in their efforts to quit smoking,” she said.”

BILL TARLING — Congratulations to the incompetent Operations Manager, Carol Hunter — she just put in policy to achieve exactly the opposite of what she claimed she wanted to achieve. And notice she uses strictly smoking data to ban the use of E-liquid Vape Products[EVP] which are pretty much anti-smoking products. Please feel free to leave the [No] Mercy University Hospital Cork a comment on their Facebook page if you so wish.

ARTICLE LINK:   Cork hospital becomes a tobacco-free zone

“The county soon could raise the legal age to buy tobacco, including electronic cigarettes and vaping products, to 21. County commissioners on Tuesday said they want to consider changing the age from 18 to 21. Chairman Peter O’Bryan requested an exemption for 18- to 20-year old members of the military. “If they’re willing to tote a gun and go to a foreign country and protect our rights, if they want to have a smoke, I’m more than willing to let them have a smoke,” O’Bryan said.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Indian River County considering raising legal age to buy tobacco, e-cigarettes to 21

“On September 9, 2020, the City of Chicago passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of flavored liquid nicotine products. The City has wasted no time enforcing the ordinance. At the end of January 2021, the City of Chicago filed a complaint against an e-cigarette seller for selling flavored liquid nicotine products to underage Chicagoans. Although the city has filed lawsuits against vape companies before, this suit is the first to enforce the recently passed ban on flavored liquid nicotine products in the city of Chicago.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Enforcement Begins Under Chicago’s Ban on Flavored Vaping Products

“Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, sent letters to 20 e-cigarette companies requesting documents and information regarding sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes and e-liquids. “I am greatly concerned that we still have bad actors trying to flood the market with illegal e-cigarettes,” said Subcommittee Chair Krishnamoorthi. “I am encouraged to see FDA take the first step in holding these companies accountable.” Between January 15, and February 12, 2021, all 20 companies received warning letters from the Food and Drug Administration accusing the companies of manufacturing and selling ENDS products without the required marketing order.”

ARTICLE LINK:
Subcommittee Demands Information from Vaping Companies Found Violating E-Cigarette Law

“Last month, the CPSC published a warning to its website asking buyers not to purchase 18650 lithium-ion battery cells. The items, which are often found in small devices like vape pens and flashlights, are not meant to be sold individually, the commission says. But they are becoming more widely available on e-commerce websites, where they are being “separated, rewrapped and sold as new consumer batteries.” This poses a considerable risk to consumers, who may unknowingly place them in devices without proper protection, increasing the risk of fire or explosion. The CPSC said their warning is aimed at 18650 batteries that don’t have protection circuits, and not necessarily every single one being sold online. They also mentioned the repackaged 18650s have been purchased by a number of do-it-yourself communities for their e-bikes or custom battery packs.”

ARTICLE LINK:
Agency Warns Against Buying Repackaged ‘18650’ Batteries That Present Fire and Explosion Risks