Lung Association Applauds Golden City Council Vote to End Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products

Last night, the Golden City Council voted to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products in retail stores, effective January 1, 2024. The measure applies to all flavored e-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquids, as well as menthol cigarettes, plus flavored varieties of cigars and chewing tobacco. Nick Torres, Advocacy Director for the American Lung Association in offered the following statement: 

“The American Lung Association in Colorado applauds Golden City Council for taking this critical action to protect the health of Golden youth—one that is key to countering predatory tactics from the tobacco industry and ending youth tobacco use. From mango ice and gummy bears, to mint and menthol, flavored tobacco products attract and initiate kids to tobacco use, then hook them to a lifetime of addiction. Flavors have largely driven the rise in youth vaping – over 80% of youth who have used tobacco started with a flavored product. We commend Golden’s action to remove flavored tobacco from the shelves. We hope more Colorado communities will follow their action. 

Golden joins six other municipalities in Colorado and more than 300 cities nationwide to end the sale of most flavored tobacco products. 

“To fully address youth vaping, and ultimately end youth tobacco use, the Lung Association calls on Colorado’s legislature and Governor Jared Polis to support ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products at the state level,” added Torres.