Denver bans flavored tobacco sales
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Flavored tobacco products displayed during a press conference calling for their ban. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
Storefronts across Denver will soon stop selling flavored tobacco products.
State of play: The Denver City Council voted 11-1 on Monday to pass a law banning sales of products including flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes.
- The sweeping decision makes Denver the latest big city to remove the popular products from local store shelves, three years after a similar attempt failed locally.
Why it matters: Supporters say banning flavored tobacco products will help reduce tobacco use among teens, as one in 12 middle and high school students still report use.
Yes, but: Opponents say the bill could hurt local businesses that rely on flavored tobacco sales to keep their doors open.
- Local business owner Zachary Shadi-Kingsley said the bill didn't adequately consider the impact on area shops selling these products.
Caveat: The city's public health department wants to take time to educate consumers before enforcement gets underway, possibly in 2026, bill co-sponsor Councilmember Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez tells us.
Zoom in: Advocates backing the ban say the tobacco industry markets its flavored products, including fruit and candy options, to young people, suggesting these products can lead people to a lifetime of usage.
Reality check: No tobacco products are safe, including e-cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The other side: Big Tobacco lobbied against Denver's bill, saying flavored tobacco products can help adults try to quit traditional cigarettes.
- Local retailers warn that banning these products could diminish their businesses by reducing revenue and pushing customers toward shops in nearby cities.
What they're saying: Gonzales-Gutierrez said the bill will "dismantle ongoing legacies of oppressions" perpetuated by the tobacco industry.
What we're watching: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has signaled support for signing the bill into law.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that flavored hookah is not among the products banned by the new bill.