It’s high time for Phoenix to finally ban the sale of #flavoredcigarettes and other tobacco products.  After years of decline, the use of such products is once again on the rise. The newest form of tobacco products directly targets youths. Any effort to protect kids from flavored cigarettes and vaping products should be welcomed, and this latest push to prohibit tobacco sales is a much needed step in the right direction. 

Michael Nowakowski, the Phoenix City Council member behind the ordinance to ban flavored tobacco products, detailed the ill effects of these products on youths from all demographics. The article explaining impacts of flavored cigarettes on high school kids is an eye opener.  

Statistically, one in six of Arizona high school students use flavored e-cigarettes. Over 16% use vaping products and over 5.3 million high school students nationwide used vaping products in 2018. The use of e-cigarettes among U.S high school students has increased by 135% in the last two years.

Tobacco industries also target colored communities disproportionately with menthol cigarettes. 7 out of 10 smokers among African-American youth use menthol cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes are also preferred by 57% of Hispanic youths who smoke. The predatory nature of the cigarette industry is making it easier for kids to take up interest in smoking. One has to wonder what took so long to initiate efforts against such toxic products. 

Apart from negative health impacts, smoking puts a great financial burden on the healthcare system. Smoking causes $2.38 billion in healthcare costs. Prohibiting sales of flavored cigarettes can save the city from this added financial burden. 

Banning the sale of flavored cigarettes and similar products is the need of the hour. This move will shelter kids from the harmful effects of smoking while also serving as a line of defense during this deadly pandemic. Healthcare costs just to treat smoking related illness has the potential to be significantly decreased and progress will be made toward tackling the predatory tobacco industry. Flavored tobacco bans have already been enacted in over 270 localities across 9 US states and it's time that Phoenix joins them.