The sale of flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, and flavored cigars, has been banned in Edgewater.
The Edgewater City Council voted unanimously (6-0) on Tuesday to ends flavored tobacco sales, becoming the sixth city in Colorado to pass such restrictions, according an Edgewater news release.
“Today, we’ve taken an important step towards reducing tobacco initiation and addiction in our community,” said council member Micha Rosenoer. “Edgewater was given the opportunity to lead on this issue, and we as council members have the responsibility to our constituents to prioritize their health and lives over industry profits. I’m proud of what we’ve done here today, for our kids and the future of our community.”
According to the 2019 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 26% of youth in Jefferson County reported using e-cigarettes in a 30-day period, the release said. Among youth who smoke conventional cigarettes, 28% reported smoking menthol cigarettes.
The prohibition will help protect youth from tobacco addiction, advance health equity and save lives, especially among Black and Hispanic residents, the release said.
“We applaud the City of Edgewater for becoming the first community in Jefferson County to advance a strong policy to address flavored tobacco and reduce the deadly toll of tobacco,” said Dr. Dawn Comstock, executive director of Jefferson County Public Health. “By eliminating the sale of appealing, kid-friendly flavors in all tobacco products, this policy will advance public health, improve health equity and save lives. We look forward to partnering with Edgewater to support ongoing retailer education and compliance activities during the implementation phase of this critical policy.”
Edgewater joins Aspen, Boulder, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and Snowmass Village in prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products, according to the release. A number of other cities, including Denver, are currently considering similar measures.
