A new Kentucky law banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors is being hailed as a step to curb teenage use of tobacco products. With the official signing by Governor Beshear, the sale of all types of e-cigarettes to minors is now illegal.
The state's Commissioner for Public Health, Stephanie Mayfield worries many e-cigarette smokers will eventually turn to tobacco products. "Most of our adults smokers start under the age of 18 and we feel that e-cigarettes is the next progressive step towards becoming a tobacco smoker with cigarettes, so this is a huge step not to sell to minors," said Mayfield.
Mayfield says this law ends any confusion over which e-cigarettes contain nicotine. As it relates to minors, she says, the prohibition makes it a moot point. In addition to concerns about nicotine content, there remains uncertainty about the ingredients in these vapor devices. "Another big problems is we don't know what all is in the e-cigarettes because they aren't regulated yet and that is a huge concern," added Mayfield.
Kentucky's youth smoking rate is the highest in the country. ?
