New York has become the latest state to push for a ban of flavored e-cigarette products, following a similar move by Michigan and an announcement from President Trump seeking a federal ban on certain vaping products.
Joseph Ditre is an associate professor of psychology at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Prof. Ditre says banning flavored e-cigs could reduce the appeal for some, but could also trigger unintended consequences related to other non-regulated products and combustible tobacco options.
Ditre says:
“The uptake of e-cigarettes among America’s youth is alarming, and there is mounting evidence that some flavors (like bubble gum, mango, and cotton candy) are especially appealing to youth and current nonsmokers. Although banning such flavors could very well reduce the appeal and uptake of e-cigarettes, it also seems prudent to consider potential unintended consequences.
“For example, might a ban on flavoring in e-cigarette products sold by corporations that are subject to regulation or state/federal inquiry inadvertently give rise to adolescents and young adults seeking out ‘bootleg’ or ‘off the street’ flavored products? There is also some question as to whether such a ban could prompt new or renewed interest in either combustible tobacco products (like cigars and cigarillos) or emerging alternative nicotine products (like orbs, sticks, and strips) that continue to be sold in a variety of appealing colors and flavors.
“In other words, why is the movement toward flavor bans mainly focused on e-cigarettes?
“Finally, there is substantial clinical and empirical interest in the potential utility of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation or reduction, and it is difficult to predict how flavor bans might impact adults who are interested in transitioning away from traditional tobacco cigarettes.”
To request interviews or get more information:
Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications
T 315.443.1184 M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell
The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., 2nd Fl., Syracuse, NY 13202
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu
Syracuse University
With the 30th anniversary of Major League Soccer (MLS) fast approaching, it’s obvious MLS has come a long way from its modest beginning in 1996. Once considered an underdog in the American sports landscape, the league has grown into a…
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is pleased to announce that Rebekah Lewis is the new director of the Maxwell-based Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health. She joined the Maxwell School as a faculty fellow…
Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily lives across the globe, changing how we learned, how we shopped and how we interacted with each other. Over the following two years, the virus caused the deaths of several million people,…
In mid-January, days after the devastating Eaton Fire began in Los Angeles County, California, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs alumnus Zayn Aga ’21 joined colleagues from the office of U.S. Rep. Judy Chu at a nearby donation drive…
Haowei Wang, assistant professor of sociology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been named a 2025-26 Association of Population Centers (APC) Fellow. Every year, the APC selects 12 population research centers to nominate an early-career center…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
