HYANNIS – The Barnstable Board of Health may take action next week to restrict the sale of all flavored tobacco products to adult-only retailers in an effort to reduce underage vaping.
The vote would follow a workshop held last week attended by nearly two dozen people, many representing convenience stores.
Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Control Program Director Bob Collett said JUUL and other e-cigarette devices present an unprecedented public health crisis.
“We have never before seen the reaction that we have seen from school teachers, parents, administrators, police and everyone else who is concerned with our children,” Collett said.
A survey recently conducted by the Barnstable Youth Commission highlights the use of these devices by town youth.
Seventh grade students at Barnstable Intermediate School were surveyed to determine how many vape or have tried vaping. There were 16 classrooms surveyed. One class reported that 100 percent of the students had tried vaping. Four classes showed at least 75 percent had tried vaping and 11 classes reported half of the students had tried vaping.
Collett said statistics show that more than 80 percent of kids who use tobacco and nicotine products use flavored products.
“It is well known and documented that the tobacco industry’s primary strategy over the years to attract kids has been to develop and sell flavored products,” Collett said.
Barnstable would join a handful of other communities in the state to restrict all flavored tobacco products. There are about 150 communities in the state which have placed restrictions on all flavors except menthol, mint and wintergreen.
The Board of Health meets Tuesday, May 28 at 3 p.m. at Barnstable Town Hall.
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