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NYC keeps air smoke free by including e-cigarettes in landmark law
December 19, 2013
NYC KEEPS AIR SMOKE FREE BY INCLUDING E-CIGARETTES IN LANDMARK LAW
Statement from Michele Bonan, regional director of advocacy, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Metro NY on today’s passage of Intro 1210A:
December 19, 2013 – New York City, NY – “As New Yorkers, we can proudly say that we’ve helped change the social norm and vastly improve the public’s health when it comes to smoking. Today we declared that we’re not going to let the e-cigarette industry ruin this success. New York City has rightfully classified e-cigarettes as a product to be regulated under existing tobacco control laws. This is a huge win for New Yorkers and especially our kids.
“E-cigarettes simulate smoking, undermine smoke-free laws and are increasingly popular with young people. Yet without any federal regulation, the public has no guarantees on how they’re made, what toxins they may contain or how many they emit. This is a terrifying combination.
“Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presented evidence to suggest that e-cigarettes may serve as a gateway to cigarette use for young people. We’ve made tremendous progress curbing youth and adult smoking rates through our tobacco control policies, namely tobacco taxes and smoke-free air laws.
“For a decade, we have had the right to breathe clean air in our city’s public spaces because of the Smoke-Free Air Act. Thanks to the New York City Council we will not have to turn the clock back 10 years, by allowing e-cigarettes to be exempt from our landmark law.
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network applauds the New York City Council for taking this bold action and urges the Mayor to swiftly sign it into law. We look forward to building on the historic progress of the last decade with the next administration.”
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