NYC expected to be 1st major U.S. city to ban flavored e-cigarettes

Nov. 26 (UPI) -- New York City is expected Tuesday to become the first major city in the United States to prohibit sales of flavored electronic cigarettes.

City councilors will vote on a measure that's already been approved by New York City health officials.

The proposal already has 32 co-sponsors on the city council, including Mark Levine, the chair of the city's health committee. The bill would ban the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes and flavored e-liquids in the United States' largest city.

The bill would also require the New York City health department to initiate a public awareness campaign detailing the availability of smoking cessation services.

Tuesday's vote will occur just days after a second death in the city related to "vaping."

"With this vote, the City Council is moving to ban the fruity, minty, candy-like flavors of e-cigarettes which were clearly designed to appeal to young people in the first place," Levine said Monday.

Some critics say the bill would devastate the city's e-cigarette market.

"Every shop in New York City will close almost immediately," Spike Babain, of Vape New York, said. "Adults have a right to choose a product that keeps them from going back to cigarettes. We are very careful about the rules. We think that it's important that people understand this is not a product for youth."

The ban already has the support of Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"I am certain there are some people who benefit, but the problem we have is we know that these flavors are being used to systematically hook children," de Blasio said.

A similar proposal was passed in Nassau County, N.Y., on Monday.