Over the last few months, most media outlets posted stories regarding e-cigarette ads that are targeting kids. The stories state that from 2011 to 2013, vape ads have reached millions of kids and young adults, prompting them to try vaping.
On a not so surprising turn of events, this is what advertising is for, to reach more audiences. The fact that it reaches kids is beyond the vaping community’s control, and should be handled by the kids’ parents.
Another article pinpoints the fruity and sweet flavorings in e-liquid, or cartoonish labeling that is much more attractive to the younger generation. Some familiar cartoon characters and anime personalities have even made their way into the e-liquid scene.
Well, there are e-liquids that have quirky illustrations, but to say that this was deliberately done to attract young teens and children to vape is just plain stupid. If you’d ask us, it isn’t an e-liquid’s packaging or how vape items are advertised. Most e-liquids have 18+ indicated somewhere on their packaging, and shops wouldn’t even sell vaping products to minors.
It still falls on the parent to tell their kids to not try vaping until they are at the right age. What is happening is basically a blame game; underage drinking has been a problem but why has anyone not stepped up to put a stop to it?
Black propaganda are spread by tobacco companies to keep their industry alive. If advertising vaping on TV is the problem, why do we see tobacco and alcohol ads in broad daylight?
The real concern though, is about greedy merchants that still sell vaping products and electronic cigarettes to minors. Even if there are existing regulations on selling these items to minors, some shops are willing to take the risk to rake in a little profit. If nobody sells teenagers and children vape mods, then why has underage vaping accumulated such attention over the last few months?
