New York AG sues vape makers for illegally selling flavored e-cigarettes, accusing 13 companies of fueling youth vaping despite the 2020 ban.
Vapes with flavors still draw in minors.
Despite strict laws, products with flavors like Rainbow Cotton Candy and Grape Bubblegum are still being sold and shipped into New York. Among the well-known vape brands referenced in the lawsuit are Puff Bar, PVG2, EVO Brands, Demand Vape, and Pod Juice. It also specifically targets three key figures from Price Point NY—CEO Weis Khwaja, Vice President Hamza Jalili, and shareholder Mohammad Jalili.
According to James, these companies have used misleading marketing tactics, social media influence, and kid-friendly packaging to attract young consumers, violating New York’s health regulations.
The Legal Action Against Vape Companies
The lawsuit seeks:
- Hundreds of millions in fines for breaking state laws.
- Restitution for the public health impact of youth vaping.
- A fund to combat youth nicotine addiction in New York.
“These companies are making nicotine seem cool, getting kids hooked, and fueling a public health crisis,” said James. “They have been abusing the law to take advantage of our young people for far too long. We’re not going to permit it.
Teen Vaping: A Growing Problem
According to the CDC, 1.6 million kids vaped in 2024, with 87.6% of them preferring flavored products. Even though it has decreased from its high in 2019, teen vaping remains the most common tobacco usage among kids.
The lawsuit highlights the tactics used by certain vape companies to try to attract younger consumers, such as LED touchscreens and Bluetooth connectivity. During the epidemic, vapes were also promoted as a “perfect escape from Zoom calls and parental texts” in other advertisements.
The Vape Industry Retaliates
Proponents of vaping contend that e-cigarettes help adult smokers reduce their damage. An organization named the American Vapor Manufacturer (AVM) referred to the lawsuit as “misguided and irresponsible.”
AVM Vice President Allison Boughner stated, “This lawsuit unfairly targets American businesses that help adult smokers quit cigarettes and provide jobs.”
Flavor prohibitions, according to the AVM, harm small firms and drive customers to unregulated black-market goods. Instead than ruining respectable companies, they pushed the AG’s office to collaborate with the industry.
What Comes Next?
The vaping business may face severe penalties and perhaps restrictions on marketing strategies as a result of the case. New York’s war against child vaping is still ongoing as the legal case plays out.
Source: USA Today