FDA Ruling Unlikely to Effect Vape Shops

The FDA’s decision to crack-down on flavored e-cigarette cartridges will likely have no effect on vape shops.

Austin ‘Shazam’ Phifer of Doc’s Vape Escape in Cookeville says heavy regulations prevent teens from even entering the store, let alone purchasing from them.

“Inside of these kinds of businesses, like a vape shop, it’s 18 and up. You can’t make a purchase at that shop at all unless you have a valid ID,” Phifer says. “It’s not going to punch us too hard, but it’s going to maybe effect more of the places like a gas station or someplace where you might get by without checking that ID verifying that person is 18 years old.”

The FDA announced Thursday it would prevent access to flavored tobacco products in an effort to reduce teen smoking and vaping.

Phifer says the FDA limits what vape shops can and cannot say when it comes to promoting the products they sell.

“We can’t put vaping out there as a healthy alternative. We’re not allowed to speak on that matter and say ‘if you’re thinking about quitting smoking, have you ever considered vaping,'” Phifer says. “We’re not really allowed to put things out like that because it hasn’t been 100 percent confirmed as a suitable replacement for smoking.”

Phifer says it’s unclear as to whether the FDA’s efforts will pay off.

“It’s mildly ridiculous to think that they can just put it out there that ‘we can save our kids by taking away this stuff that tastes like mango,'” Phifer says. “That’s not going to help them. Now they’re going to vape on the other ones you have because you’re not supposed to have them if you’re underage in the first place. The laws don’t really stop the ones that are breaking them in the first place.”

The FDA launched an investigation last month into e-cigarette company Juul following reports of its marketing strategy being targeted towards youth.