Golden City Council unanimously votes to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products

DENVER — The Golden City Council voted unanimously this week to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city limits. Dozens of parents, medical professionals and public health advocates spoke out in support of Ordinance 2.216, arguing that flavored products are intentionally designed to get kids addicted to nicotine products. Recent data shows that Colorado teens use e-cigarettes at more than twice the national average rate, and over 80% of teens choose flavored products. There are currently more than 15,000 varieties of flavored nicotine products available, none of which are approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation device. 

Vape shop owners, gas station and convenience store owners spoke passionately about the negative impact the ban would have on their businesses, with many claiming that the policy will put them out of business. They also cited the limited geographic impact of the ban, which would allow consumers to continue to purchase flavored products outside city limits.

Jefferson County Public Health gave a presentation on the rates and harmful impacts of nicotine use among teens in Jefferson County, and Councilmember Bill Fisher who introduced the ordinance spoke strongly about the importance of local leadership on issues that reflect the values of the community and can make a real impact in changing behavior. Other council members cited Golden’s strong family values as reason for action. 

Public health advocate Alex Simon worked together with coalition partners from the Jefferson County Public Health, Tobacco-Free Kids, Tobacco 21, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, the Children’s Hospital of Colorado and others to advocate for the ordinance and provide public comment.  She issued the following statement on the vote:

“Flavors hide the danger of nicotine and get kids hooked on a lifetime of addiction, often with horrible health outcomes. We applaud Golden for stepping up on behalf of the youth in their community by removing these harmful products from the marketplace.”

Golden follows the communities of Boulder, Aspen, Snowmass, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Edgewater as the seventh local municipality in Colorado to enact such a ban.