NYC Flavored e-Liquid Ban Toolkit.docx

The NYC Flavored e-Liquid Ban Toolkit

Here is what everyone can do to stop this horrible legislation in its tracks. Below you will find five action items.

Int 0488-2014 was introduced today in NYC. If it passes, it will be illegal to sell flavored e-liquid in NYC. This will likely prohibit the sale of all e-liquid except Tobacco and Menthol Tobacco flavors. (Actually, the way it is worded ALL flavors would be banned, but they will probably amend the bill to exempt tobacco and menthol flavors.)

The bill has been referred to the Health Committee and will likely be discussed at the next scheduled meeting which is on October 23rd.

Action Item #1: CASAA has provided us with a tool to help fight this ban with just a few clicks of a mouse. This takes all of 15 seconds to complete. Here it is, get clicking and when you are done with that, here are some other things that you can do that go above and beyond to make a difference.

Action Item #2: TBD

The Health Committee will NOT be covering the flavor ban legislation on October 23rd. It is NOT necessary to attend the meeting.

When the Health Committee calendar is updated and the flavor ban appears on an agenda, this document will be updated. At that point, spread the word.

Action Item #3: Use phone, email, and social media to contact Health Committee Members.

We have an opportunity to kill this legislation while it is in front of the Health Committee. This would prevent the bill from passing into the NYC Council for vote. This is our best opportunity to stop this legislation in its tracks, and the time for action is right now.

Here are the members of the health committee, along with their phone numbers, email addresses, and facebook/twitter information.

When you contact the committee members, tell them that you OPPOSE 0488-2014.

Tell them that you quit smoking cigarettes by using flavored e-liquid (fruit, candy, bakery, whatever it is that worked for you). For example: I quit smoking tobacco by using watermelon flavored e-liquid.

Tell them that this law will only restrict flavored e-cigarettes and e-liquid to adults as it is already illegal to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under 21 years of age in NYC.

Tell them that you vote, and that you will vote against anyone who supports this senseless legislation.

If you are a B&M owner or employee, tell them how this legislation would have disastrous consequences for your business/job.

Health Committee Members:

Corey Johnson (Chair)phone: 212-564-7757email: District3@council.nyc.govfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/coreyforcouncil2013twitter: https://twitter.com/CoreyinNYC

Robert Cornegyphone: 718-919-0740email: RCornegy@council.nyc.govfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CouncilMemberRobertCornegytwitter: https://twitter.com/RobertCornegyJr

Rafael Espinalphone: 718-642-8664email: REspinal@council.nyc.govfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RafaelLEspinaljr twitter: https://twitter.com/RLEspinal

Inez Barronphone: 718-649-9495 email: none foundfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AssemblywomanInezBarronReElect2012twitter: none found

Peter Koophone: 718-888-8747email: pkoo@council.nyc.govfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Koo/207749175523twitter: https://twitter.com/PeterKoo2009 (seems inactive)

Rosie Mendezphone: 212-677-1077email: Rmendez@council.nyc.govfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosie.mendeztwitter: https://twitter.com/RosieMendez

Mathieu Eugenephone: 718-287-8762email: mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.govfacebook (both seem inactive): https://www.facebook.com/pages/Council-Member-Mathieu-Eugene/110397895674886 and https://www.facebook.com/mathieu.eugene.3twitter: https://twitter.com/CMMathieuEugene

Jimmy Van Bramerphone: 718-383-9566email: JVanBramer@council.nyc.govfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-Van-Bramer/125696285699twitter: https://twitter.com/JimmyVanBramer

Maria Del Carmen Arroyophone: 718-402-6130email: http://council.nyc.gov/d17/html/members/contact.shtmlfacebook: nonetwitter: none

Action Item #4: If you live in NYC, find your representative and contact them.

You can use this link to find your representative. Just put in your street address and borough and you will find the contact information for your representative.

Call/email/facebook/twitter them and tell them that you OPPOSE 0488-2014. See Action Item #2 for more information on what to say to them.

Despite the fact that we lost two key battles last year, we have a vibrant vaping community in NYC. This legislation is not only a threat to our rights as consumers and business owners, it is a threat to our community.

The only places where you can vape indoors in NYC is in a private residence or in a Vape B&M. Banning the sale of flavored e-liquid would be a burden that would be difficult, perhaps impossible to bear for NYC vape shops. This is a direct threat to the vitality of the vaping community in NYC.

Vapers in NYC take note: many times in matters of public health, as NYC goes, so goes the nation. Please help us!

Action Item #5: Share this document on social media. If you are a B&M owner, please consider offering a discount to your customers for completing these Action Items. Let your customers know about this and encourage them to get involved, as they will be affected too.

Thank you!