Big Tobacco jumps into Denver's flavored tobacco fight
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A proposal to ban flavored tobacco products in Denver is drawing opposition from Big Tobacco.
State of play: Ads from Smoke-Free Choice, backed by the nonprofit Coalition for Health, Opportunity, Innovation and Consumer Education (CHOICE), are appearing locally against the ban.
The intrigue: CHOICE is funded by Philip Morris International, per its website, though it operates independently from the company, a spokesperson for Philip Morris tells us.
- CHOICE's goal is to inform adults about "smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes."
Why it matters: A multinational company trying to sway public opinion against a local proposal signals Big Tobacco sees Denver's ban as a threat to the industry.
The big picture: Denver City Council members sponsoring the proposal are framing the bill as an attempt to protect children from tobacco products.
- Public health advocates say flavored e-cigarettes are so popular among young people that they attribute the products to slowing declines in teen tobacco use.
Stunning stat: A November report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's nonprofit arm shows a 47% spike in e-cigarette unit sales at U.S. retail shops between 2019 and 2023, with more than 80% of those sales made up of fruit, candy and other flavored products.
Between the lines: Crucially, city council has Mayor Mike Johnston's support, who told us in October he would sign the bill.
- Former Mayor Mike Hancock rejected a similar proposal in 2021.
Context: Smoke-Free Choice's website features video testimonials from local vape shop owners and adults who use flavored tobacco products sharing their objections.
- Opponents say the industry already takes precautions to restrict teen use, suggest outlawing the products will move business to surrounding cities, and say the ban eliminates a tool for people to wean off traditional cigarettes.
By the numbers: Roughly 550 retailers sell flavored tobacco products in Denver, per city documents.
- Only people ages 21 years and older can legally purchase tobacco products in the city.
The latest: Supporters gathered at the City and County Building on Monday to advocate for the ban, warning about addiction potential and generational harms caused by nicotine use.
- "Flavored tobacco is not just harmless, it's a tool designed with precision to hook kids," University of Colorado Denver junior William Navarrete Moreno said at Monday's event.
The other side: "Flavors can be supportive in helping consumers make the transition to better alternatives," Philip Morris International spokesperson Travis Parman said in a statement to Axios on Monday.
- Parman cited a Yale School of Public Health study suggesting flavor restrictions can push smokers to use more harmful forms of nicotine consumption.
What's next: The bill will be introduced at a committee meeting on Wednesday.