Are Flavored E-Cigarettes Made to Attract Kids?

Last updated on December 13th, 2021

The Debate About Sweet Flavored E-Liquids Being Aimed at Kids 

In 2014 I cited MarketWatch reporter Tom Bemis, who said E-Cigarettes should be banned because “Kids love ‘em”.  The same anti-e-cigarette argument continues to be fed to the public in a huge politically driven campaign aimed at destroying the e-cigarette industry under the guise of saving children from smoking cigarettes.

Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois has said,  “E-cigarettes are a candy-flavored addiction, which is dangerous to our young people across America”. 

Ecig antagonists have made many unfounded and blatantly incorrect assumptions about vaping, however this one takes the cake.  Reports claim that because kids like sweet flavors, all flavored e-cigarettes are aimed at attracting children. 

I say “rubbish”. This so called e-cigarette marketing “scheme” to attract our young people attracted me, and I'm an adult. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I like the taste of chocolate, peppermint and blueberry. Hey, I even like exotic flavors such as Pina Colada and Peanut Butter Banana. Sorry, but my taste buds haven’t degenerated with age. Okay, maybe several years of smoking cigarettes has killed off a few buds, but that’s probably why I like intense flavors even more than I did as a kid.

The majority of adult vapers feel the same way. Studies have shown that adults find fruit, candy and savory flavors necessary to help them quit smoking.

Here Are the Results Conducted by E-Cigarette Forum

When I first tried e-cigarettes I ordered a tobacco flavored Cartomizer.  No offense to those who like it, but I thought it tasted like moldy socks. (I wisely gave up eating such unsavories years ago).

It took three years before I found a decent tobacco flavored Cartomizer, but then when I started using a vape pen with a tank, I enjoyed the many other varieties of e-liquid flavors.

There are good reasons why e-cigarette companies offer fruit and dessert flavored e-cigarette cartridges and liquids and they have nothing to do with attracting minors. Pleasant tasting flavors take smokers one step further away from enjoying the tobacco smoking experience, which is the whole point of vaping.

Some may cite the fact that more young people are attracted to e-cigarettes.  It's true; however, well-credentialed new studies say e-cigarettes do not appear to be a gateway to smoking tobacco cigarettes. There's no sane reason why teens would move from an e-cigarette to a foul smelling, costlier, more socially taboo alternative.   

I suggest that those vision-less crusaders against e-cigarettes, direct their vehemence towards other products such as Vodka, which also comes in fruit flavors; or carbonated beverages for that that matter. A single can of deliciously flavored soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulfates.