Students say nicotine flavor ban could help peers
By James Maloney
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MONTPELIER, Vermont (WPTZ) — Some Vermont students are calling for a ban on flavored nicotine products on Tuesday. They said the use of nicotine in schools is harming their peers and want lawmakers to do something about it.
Students associated with ‘Our Voices Xposed’ gathered on the statehouse steps in Montpelier. The youth group is partnering with the Vermont Department of Health.
Health officials said as of 2023, 16 % of Vermont high school students used e-cigarettes recently. Of those students, 37% did so daily. 6% of middle schoolers also report using a vape.
Nearly 90% of teens who vape say they use flavored e-cigarettes. Bonni Lunna, a student at BFA St. Albans, said she does not blame her classmates who use tobacco, the companies that make the products.
“This is not a kids making dumb choices issue,” Lunna said. “This is an industry issue- big tobacco didn’t disappear, they just got smarter, they took addiction and turned it into something flavored, colorful and easy to hide.”
A Senate bill has been introduced at the state house that seeks to ban devices that don’t appear to look like an e-cigarette.
Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a flavor ban bill in 2024. He said it takes away from the rights of adults.
He also said raising the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 and increasing taxes on some tobacco products were reasonable steps to address youth and nicotine use.
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