The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is pulling electronic cigarettes and vape products from on-base store shelves amid safety concerns, officials said Tuesday.
The move, which takes effect Monday, follows a plan announced last week by retail giant Walmart to stop selling the products amid concerns about links to severe lung disease.
The Army Public Health Center warned servicemembers Sept. 12 to avoid vape products after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaping may be linked to hundreds of cases of severe lung disease and at least six deaths in dozens of states.
“Until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments to collect information on e-cigarette and vape products is complete … the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is removing these products from its assortment, effective close of business Sept. 30,” AAFES senior public affairs manager Chris Ward said in an email Tuesday.
AAFES officials said last week that electronic cigarettes and vape products constitute a small and falling share of tobacco sales at overseas stores.
Navy officials didn’t respond to questions about sales at Navy Exchange stores.
AAFES stores have sold vape products since late 2012, spokeswoman Julie Mitchell said in an email Friday.
In 2018 exchange stores sold $1.8 million worth of vape products, down 11% from the previous year, she said.
“The category has never been more than 1 percent of tobacco sales for the Exchange,” she said.
Vape products sold at AAFES stores include the brands blu and myblu made by Fontem Ventures and Vuse Vibe and Vuse Solo made by R.J. Reynolds, Mitchell said.
“Both manufacturers’ products are registered with the [Food and Drug Administration],” she said.
The recent vaping news didn’t have the support of servicemembers using the products at designated smoking areas at Yokota Air Base, the home of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force in western Tokyo.
Airman 1st Class Mathew Betts, of Frenchtown, Mont., said Tuesday that going to off-base stores isn’t an option because Japan doesn’t sell vape products containing nicotine. He plans to buy his supplies online.
Senior Airman Isaac Hoke, who was vaping at Yokota last Thursday, said he took up the habit four years ago and is now addicted.
“I don’t really see how they can say it’s more dangerous than smoking or [chewing tobacco] … I think it’s a much safer alternative,” he said.
Authorities shouldn’t ban vaping since it’s no more dangerous than using other tobacco products, Hoke said.
Another Yokota airman, Staff Sgt. Domenic Miner, said he vapes for stress relief.
“I understand what they’re saying [in the warning] but it’s like saying you shouldn’t drink or smoke,” he said. “It’s just one of those things you’re going to do.”
Seth Robson And Theron Godbold – Stars And Stripes – September 24, 2019.
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