Proponents and critics of vaping Friday debated strenuously before President Donald Trump on whether the federal government should ban flavored e-cigarettes, in a public-policy version of "The Apprentice" that featured combatants trying to score points with a demanding host who also happens to be the president.
At the end, no one was fired, and it seemed as though the contest — which involved a major public health issue — was far from over.
The president, for his part, raised questions about the wisdom of outright "prohibition" of e-cigarette flavors, although he himself had announced one two months ago. He noted Friday that bans could lead to proliferation of black-market products. "If you don't give it to them, it is going to come here illegally," he said at the meeting with vaping and tobacco industry leaders, public-health advocates and others on the surge in underage vaping. "They could be selling something on a street corner that could be horrible. They are going to have a flavor that is poison."
At the same time, Trump indicated support for legislation to raise the federal minimum age for buying tobacco products to 21 from 18, which is pending in Congress.
While health groups generally support an age increase, they say "Tobacco 21," as it is called, is not enough to check the increase in teen vaping. "Raising the age doesn't fix the main problem," Gary Reedy, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, said after the meeting. "As long as the flavors are there, kids are going to be enticed."
In the hour-long session in the Cabinet Room, the various participants argued their views, occasionally shouting their disapproval. At one point, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who supported the comprehensive e-cigarette flavor ban that Trump touted in September but has since balked at finalizing, said most adults do not use flavors.
"Yes, they do!" yelled vaping advocates, offering to provide sales statistics.
Some health group members objected loudly when they felt vaping advocates understated the prevalence of e-cigarette use among young people. More than five million teens have vaped in the last 30 days, they pointed out, citing the latest federal data.
Trump announced a ban on non-tobacco flavored vapes on Sept. 11 but earlier this month retreated from the decision because of concerns that job losses in the vaping industry and disgruntled vapers could hurt his reelection prospects, The Washingtonpost has reported.
www.stripes.com/ Coverage by Stars and Stripes online
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/in-apparent-shift-trump-warns-about-dangers-of-banning-flavored-e-cigarettes-1.608369
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