Unwelcome Island Visitors: Hawaii Passes New E-Cigarette Regulations

Last week, Hawaii passed state Senate bill 975, an ambitious move to tackle the youth vaping epidemic. This bill not only introduces comprehensive tobacco regulations pertaining to the shipping and importing of tobacco products, but also categorizes electronic smoking devices and e-liquids as tobacco products. As a result, these products will now be subject to a tobacco wholesale tax of 70%, one of the highest in the country. The passing of this bill has garnered support from health officials and youth health advocates, who are optimistic that higher costs will effectively reduce the use and accessibility of e-cigarette devices among the state’s younger populations. 

Substantial evidence demonstrates that tobacco taxes serve as highly effective public health measures in combating tobacco use. These taxes are particularly effective among lower-income and youth demographics. Research has indicated that youth populations are two to three times more responsive to price changes compared to the general population. This means that when e-cigarettes are subjected to tobacco taxes and their prices rise, younger individuals are more likely to be discouraged from purchasing them. 

Even as tobacco taxes have been effective in reducing youth tobacco use, the industry has developed another way to entice new, young users: flavored tobacco. It is crucial for state legislators to implement measures that end the sale of flavored tobacco products specifically designed to attract children. In Hawaii, approximately 15% of high school students currently use e-cigarettes, and national research indicates that a staggering 96% of young e-cigarette users smoke products with flavors. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first try smoking by age 18. We need to keep tobacco products out of kids’ hands during that crucial period. The popularity of flavors like candy, mint and menthol across products suggests a broad appeal to young tobacco users. We need to sever the magnetic pull between kids and flavors.

Nicotine, the addictive substance found in flavored tobacco, has severe repercussions on the developing adolescent brain, which continues to develop until around the age of 25. Moreover, extensive research on e-cigarettes has revealed adverse health effects on pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurological, and other organ systems. Given the detrimental health consequences and the prevalence of e-cigarette use among young populations, it is critical for Hawaii state legislators, along with local, state, and national authorities, to take decisive actions against flavored tobacco products. Doing so will protect the health and well-being of future generations.