Blumenthal, Esty propose bill to ban e-cigarette advertising geared to kids

[NutmegYankee]

Hartford — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, said Monday that they hope bills they have each introduced to ban electronic-cigarette companies from advertising their products to children will receive bipartisan support.

“Kids aren’t using e-cigarettes to stop smoking like some adults,” Esty said. “Our children are getting hooked on nicotine, a highly addictive drug, which the surgeon general has warned has lasting, adverse consequences for adolescent brain development.”

Minors in Connecticut can legally purchase e-cigarettes, although Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposed banning those sales this year.

Supporters of the bill said the brightly colored e-cigarettes that come in flavors such as gummy bear and cotton candy should not be advertised to children because the product is addictive and could cause a lifetime of disease.
http://www.theday.com/article/20140407/NWS12/140409728/1017

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. I always see people talking about the ads geared towards kids...

But I've never seen the ads. I've also never seen a store anywhere sell an ecig to a minor. All of them keep them behind the counters, with signs that say "Must Be 18 To Purchase". Even the websites that sell them require the purchaser to be 18.

Adults like candy flavors, too. It's not a kid-specific thing. The article itself mentioned "celebrities" in the ads. I've seen Stephen Dorff and Jenny McCarthy. You know, those two hip, teen idols. Oh wait, they're not.

[bigwillq]

2. I wish they would talk more about lowering my taxes (nt)