E-cigarette smoking was never safe for everyone, especially when it comes to kids, teens or even young adults. Experts found out that most e-cigarettes available in the market nowadays have nicotine on it.
Nicotine can't just cause addiction but also pose different health issues in the body such as gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or even burning sensation in the throat and mouth. Taking too much of it through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation can even be a threat to one's life.
Given these reasons, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has always made it illegal for minors to purchase this product. Unfortunately, a recent report showed how 15 retailers have been outselling e-cigarettes to minors despite the warnings.
The FDA has also raised a red flag of about 40 e-cigarette companies, which the agency thinks have illegally introduced about 15 new products to the market. To be able to investigate the situation, the FDA requested some information from these companies regarding this concern.
Among the 15 companies that are in the hot seat today, some are corporate-owned, and others are franchise retailers. These companies have allegedly sold "tobacco products to minors more than 15 percent of the time since the FDA started conducting inspections in 2010," as reported by CNBC.
Some of these companies are Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, Marathon, 7-Eleven, BP, Family Dollar, and Citgo. But among them all, the top violator is Walgreens. It was recorded that since 2010, Walgreens has violated this law about 1,800 times.
The Walgreens management defended their grounds saying they never really allow minors to purchase products with tobacco in it. According to Wish TV, the spokesperson of the company expressed their willingness to fire those that have been behind this illegal act.
This move has been a part of the FDA's Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan that pushes companies to embrace kid-friendly marketing. Almost one million tobacco retailers have been inspected, and the agency is still aiming to inspect more.
Despite being illegal for youths to use vapes, about 37% of high school seniors opened up that they have tried using vape last year. FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb shared these rates are quite alarming. He even referred vaping among teens as "epidemic," which should be put an end.
As of the moment, these government and health officials are working hand in hand to become the voice that would inspire teens not to use vapes. They are also working hard not to tolerate retailers and shops that fail to follow their goal.
