Chicago City Council Outlaws Most Flavored Tobacco Vape Products

CHICAGO — The City Council on Wednesday approved a citywide ban on the sale of flavored vaping products that are popular with teenagers.

The ordinance forwarded by Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) was a scaled back version of an earlier proposal that called for banning all flavored tobacco products that met heavy opposition from retailers. As a result, the compromise ordinance continues to allow the sale of flavored cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco within the city limits.

"I’m asking for your support because we all know vaping is unsafe for children, and we all know that vaping products are marketed to children, with flavors like apple, berry, bubble gum, cotton candy, gummy bear, fruit loops ... strawberry shortcake. So please, don’t hide behind 'vaping is a sensation.' They’re targeting our children and it will cost lives," O'Shea said.

The new restrictions were approved in a 46-4 vote. Aldermen Nick Sposato (38th), George Cardenas, Anthony Napolitano (41st) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) voted against the ordinance.

Reilly argued that he would like to see better enforcement of existing laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to people under 21 years old rather than ban on certain tobacco products. And Sposato described the ban as a burden on businesses.

"We're just killing businesses in this city," he said.