American Cancer Society Advocacy Affiliate Applauds Los Angeles County for Taking Swift Action to End Sales of All Flavored Tobacco Products

LOS ANGELES Calif. – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) issues this statement from Los Angeles Government Relations Director Primo Castro following the vote by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today to eliminate all flavor tobacco sales:

“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) applauds action taken by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors today to halt all sales of flavored tobacco products in the county. This includes candy, fruit and mint flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and any other flavored tobacco products including cigars.

“This swift action is exactly the type of protections we would like to see for every child everywhere. Flavored tobacco products are a ruthless strategy by Big Tobacco to transform our kids into addicted tobacco users through flavored ‘starter kits.’

“Make no mistake the industry shamelessly tries to maximize profits while its customers suffer death and disease, and local taxpayers continue to foot the bill for tobacco-related illnesses.

“New data release this month by the Food and Drug Administration shows youth use of e-cigarettes in high school skyrocketed, with a 135% increase over the past two years. Preliminary numbers show that an alarming 27.5% of high school students used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. Sixty-three point nine percent used mint or menthol flavored e-cigarettes, only 2%less than fruit flavored products and significantly more than candy flavors. 

“Nearly 40 other cities and counties, including San Francisco, have already instituted similar flavored tobacco restrictions.

“Flavors are driving the e-cigarette epidemic and its unprecedented increase in youth tobacco uptake. The best course of action is to eliminate sales of all flavored tobacco products and we applaud Los Angeles County in their timely passage of these protections.”

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About ACS CAN

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.