Michigan Flavored E-Cigarette Sales Skyrocketed by More Than 600% Since February 2020
Alarming Data Shows Urgency to End the Sale of Flavored E-Cigarettes to Protect Kids from Nicotine Addiction
LANSING – Youth e-cigarette use continues to be a public health crisis in Michigan, with flavored e-cigarette sales increasing by more than 600% in the past four years, the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance warned today. In Michigan, 14% of high school students use e-cigarettes, and national research shows that nearly 90% of youth e-cigarette users use flavored products.
“The alarming jump in flavored e-cigarette sales reinforces just how serious Michigan’s tobacco use problem really is,” said Jodi Radke, regional advocacy director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and co-chair of the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance. “We know that the vast majority of kids are using e-cigarettes are using flavored products. Urgent action is needed to protect our kids from these dangerous products. We have proven strategies to reverse these astronomical and highly alarming trends and to prevent Michiganders from a lifetime of addiction and health problems. We urge Michigan Senators to act immediately on the “Protect MI Kids” comprehensive tobacco prevention bill package and begin hearings in the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee.”
The data, compiled from the CDC Foundation , analyzed state and national e-cigarette sales trends from Feb. 2020 and Dec. 2023. Sales increases in Michigan reinforce the need to implement comprehensive tobacco prevention policies to protect youth from these products. The data for Michigan showed:
622.3% increase in monthly flavored e-cigarette sales, including mint and menthol flavors
347.4% increase in total monthly e-cigarette sales
1659.8% increase in monthly sales of disposable e-cigarette devices, almost all of which are flavored.
537.2% increase in monthly mint-flavored e-cigarette sales
21.4% increase in monthly menthol-flavored e-cigarette sales
Disposable e-cigarettes make up 88.5% of Michigan’s e-cigarette market (higher than the 57.2% national rate)
“The drastic increase in flavored e-cigarette sales shows that Michigan needs to enact comprehensive tobacco prevention policies now to ensure a healthier future for all Michiganders – especially since the FDA has not authorized a single flavored e-cigarette, yet flavored e-cigarettes make up 92.7% of sales in Michigan,” said Dr. Brittany Tayler, internist and pediatrician at Hurley Medical Center, assistant professor at the Pediatric Public Health Initiative at Michigan State University and co-chair of Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance. “We urge the Legislature to take swift action to reverse the tobacco and youth e-cigarette crisis jeopardizing the health of Michiganders every day.”
The CDC Foundation data reinforces the need for legislative action on a comprehensive tobacco prevention legislative package introduced in November 2023 in the Michigan Senate. The bill package includes ending the sale of flavored tobacco products including e-cigarette flavors that are targeted to youth. The bills would:
End the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes and menthol-flavored cigarettes. (Senate Bills 649 and 650, Cherry)
Require tobacco retailers to be licensed, just like liquor retailers, so the state can enforce laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors. (SBs 651 and 652, Singh)
Tax e-cigarettes and vaping products containing nicotine for the first time and increase tobacco taxes with proceeds used to reduce tobacco use among youth. (SB 648, Chang)
Allow local counties and cities to enact tougher restrictions on tobacco sales within their own community. (SB 647, Shink)
Repeal ineffective penalties that punish kids for tobacco purchase, use and possession. (SB 654, Wojno and SB 653, Cavanagh)
Polling conducted last year showed that Michigan voters strongly support (67%) a comprehensive bill package to reduce tobacco use among kids, including ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products.
About the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance
The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance is a coalition of more than 120 public health, community organizations, school groups and other community groups advocating for stronger tobacco policy and prevention in Michigan. Learn more about the Alliance at KeepMIKidsTobaccoFree.com.
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