Clifton urged to crack down on some vaping businesses
CLIFTON — City officials need to mount a campaign against the sale of vaping products to all minors, said Clifton Against Substance Abuse, the municipal alliance formed to bring awareness of the dangers of misusing alcohol, drugs and other substances.
Most recently, CASA asked the City Council to allow it to form a committee that would make recommendations to the state’s Division of Taxation on whether specific retailers that have repeatedly violated laws should have their licenses suspended or revoked.
Tom Whittles, CASA’s president, said the number of stores that sell vaping products has greatly increased in recent years, and so has the number of fines levied. Often, the stores are near schools and other places where children are found.
In its annual 2022 report, the city’s Health Department highlighted employee Layal Helwani, “also known as the ‘Anti-Vaping Queen,’” who aggressively stepped up the department’s Tobacco Age of Sale Enforcement program.
Layal sent underage students into establishments that sell tobacco products and had them try to purchase tobacco products and flavored vaping products, the report said.
“Unfortunately, we found numerous retail store owners selling to minors, and illegally selling flavored vapes,” the 2022 report reads. “Layal issued summonses to these violators which resulted in over $40,000 in fines.”
Whittles said that even with the number of fines issued in 2022, businesses have not been dissuaded from selling vaping and flavored vaping products to those under the age of 21. There is also a concern that some smoke shops are selling cannabis-infused vaping cartridges.
“We want something with some teeth to go after repeat offenders,” Whittles said.
Since 2019, the city’s Health Department has been conducting sting operations against retailers that sell vaping products to minors.
At that time there were about 10 stores that were selling a substantial proportion of the vapor-nicotine products to minors.
In 2019, the city’s tobacco enforcement program sent underage buyers to 95 e-cigarette businesses, said city Health Officer John Biegel. Of those, 21 sold vaping products to minors, he said.
At that time, CASA asked the city to look into adopting more stringent measures. Currently, retailers caught selling to those under 21 are fined $250 for the first infraction, $500 for the second and $1,000 each for subsequent violations.
After four years of conducting sting operations, CASA members said the city is not doing enough or moving fast enough to address the problem.
CASA proposed a committee that includes one of its members, the city’s health officer, the city’s medical director and the president of the Board of Health to examine the repeat offenders and make recommendations on whether to suspend or revoke their license to sell the products.
The City Council, however, said if it comes down to deciding on whether to revoke the licenses, it ought to be done by representatives who are directly elected by the people.
Council members said they will set aside time to meet with business owners deemed repeat offenders, which will be determined by the number of times they are convicted in Municipal Court for underage sales, and then decide if they will recommend that their tobacco licenses be suspended or revoked.
“We want something with some teeth to go after repeat offenders.”
Tom Whittles
Clifton Against Substance Abuse president