New data from tobacco company Altria reveals that older vapers are returning to their deadly cigarette habit.
The switch follows a months-long media ambush driven by well-funded “grassroots” anti-vaping efforts. States began regulating retail e-cigarette outlets, often banning vape devices, making the products difficult to access.
Older smokers who had switched to e-cigarettes are turning back to traditional cigarettes because of negative news coverage and regulatory crackdowns on vaping, Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc. said.
“Over the last several months, we’ve observed an increase in the number of age 50 and older smokers in the cigarette category,” CEO Billy Gifford told investors on Altria’s first-quarter earnings conference call. “We believe these smokers had previously switched to e-vapor products, but recently returned to cigarettes due to negative publicity and regulatory and legislative developments in the e-vapor category.”
New laws banning the sale of all e-cigarette products went into effect a few weeks ago in New York state. While consumers can still use vape products legally, it is illegal for stores to sell them.
Russell Kent – Galion Inquirer – June 7, 2020.
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