Vapes, e-cigarettes, Juuls, Mods, Puff bars, Elf bars — all of these terms are part of Big Tobacco’s push to hook the next generation on their products. These battery-powered devices work by heating liquid into an inhalable vapor, and while the names vary, the risks remain the same.
For parents trying to protect their kids, or young people trying to stay away from vapes, the vaping laws can be confusing. Between rumors of vape bans, shifting laws and Big Tobacco’s constant attempts to find loopholes for their products, it can be hard to get the truth.
Here’s a reminder of Oklahoma’s vape laws, the dangers and how you can get involved in the fight for stronger vaping laws to protect our youth.
The Dangers of Vaping
The truth is vaping is dangerous for your health. Big Tobacco wants to addict the next generation of kids they call their “replacement smokers,” by marketing vapes as a “healthier” alternative to cigarettes wrapped in colorful packaging with fruity flavors appealing to youth.
Understanding Oklahoma Vape Laws
Here are Oklahoma’s current regulations on vaping and underage tobacco use:
Tobacco 21
Tobacco 21 was signed into law in December 2019. This law raised the national age for purchasing tobacco products, including vapes, from 18 to 21. This was a huge win to protect our youth and stop Big Tobacco from getting more “replacement smokers.”
Location
Vapes are prohibited on properties owned, leased or contracted for use by the state, including buildings, land and vehicles. Vaping is permitted by those who live in Veteran’s Affairs Residential Facilities while they are on facility grounds.
Vapes are also prohibited on the grounds of many other state-owned facilities. However, Oklahoma’s Clean Indoor Air Act has not been amended to prohibit the use of vape products where smoking is prohibited.1
Flavored Vapes
In January 2020, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enacted new restrictions on flavored products, which especially target youth. While this did remove candy-like and fruity flavors from store shelves, Big Tobacco uses loopholes to keep certain flavors available.
The U.S House of Representatives passed a bill in February 2020 that would have banned all flavored e-cigarettes — a 100% flavor ban that would protect youth from Big Tobacco’s schemes. However, the bill did not pass the Senate, meaning flavored products are still easily accessible through loopholes in federal regulation.
Areas of Leniency
Currently, vapes do not have an additional state excise tax. This is not in line with other tobacco products, despite their similar risks and addictive nature.
Protecting Oklahoma’s Youth
To protect young people from Big Tobacco, we can:
Advocate for stronger enforcement against underage tobacco sales
While Tobacco 21 is in effect in Oklahoma, it is not strictly enforced. Many kids find ways around the age restriction. Increasing retailer compliance checks and creating stronger penalties for selling to underage kids could help close access for kids.
Ban menthol and other flavored products
Flavored products get teens addicted to nicotine. Four out of five kids who have used tobacco start with a flavored product.2 Removing these flavors from the market could save kids from a lifetime of addiction.
These steps would make a significant and immediate impact. By pushing for stronger enforcement, we can reduce youth access, prevent addiction and protect the next generation from Big Tobacco.
Talk With Your Kids
The best way to protect kids from vaping is to start the conversation early. Your kids are surrounded with mixed messages when it comes to vaping and are also navigating the ups and downs that come with growing up. Starting a judgment-free conversation could help prevent your child from becoming Big Tobacco’s next target.
Tips to start the conversation:
- Listen: Don’t lecture your kid; make sure the conversation is a two-way street.
- Avoid scare tactics: Using judgment or fear could put your child on defensive mode. To keep the conversation open, lead with the facts.
- Tailor the conversation to your kid: Make the conversation more personal by talking about their dreams, passions and goals.
- Keep the door open: Don’t let this be a one-and-done conversation. Check in with your kid and be ready to answer questions as they come up.
Talking with your kids about the facts and dangers of vaping will help them make informed decisions. Check out these free conversation guides to figure out where to start.
Stay Informed and Get Involved
It takes many voices speaking out to create change. Big Tobacco isn’t going to stop targeting young people with flavors, sleek devices and deceptive marketing without a fight. Together, we can protect Oklahoma’s youth. By learning about the dangers of vaping, starting a conversation with your kids and the people in your life, and supporting stronger laws, we can protect the next generation from nicotine addiction.
Take action and stand up to Big Tobacco; your kids are counting on you.