Vote No! Arkansas HB1711

Proposals to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products have been in the works for ten years. Advocates of Tobacco 21 (T21) claim these laws will significantly reduce smoking initiation for young people. However, these laws also ban the sale of vapor products to anyone under 21. HB1711 is Arkansas’ T21 bill in the 2017 session. Only two other states have adopted T21 legislation – California and Hawaii. Advocates of T21 legislation strive for the eventual elimination of tobacco and nicotine products. They promote the view that all tobacco and vapor products, in spite of considerable evidence to the contrary, are equally harmful. T21 legislation, which treats all tobacco and vapor products equally under the law, sends an erroneous message to consumers that vapor products pose risks equivalent to traditional cigarettes. It treats young adults, who are capable enough to serve in the military, sign contracts, and elect decision-makers to public office, as incapable of making the distinction between risky and less risky behavior. T21 laws represent a prohibitionist approach, which in the past has often led to harmful unintended consequences. By including vapor products as a part of T21 legislation, an 18-year-old will be denied access to products that can save him from a lifelong addiction to cigarettes. Arkansas Vape Advocacy Alliance is strongly opposed to this new legislation, and we encourage our members to do everything in their power to influence their representatives to vote against HB1711. More information will be made available when possible.