Atkins: Flavored tobacco ban fallout

By: Jim Atkins

Jan 19, 2024

As the Vermont House Committee on Human Services prepares to deliberate the proposed flavored-tobacco ban, it’s crucial to pause and consider the wider ramifications of such a policy. While the intention behind banning flavored tobacco products might seem noble, the potential fallout from this decision could be economically devastating for the state of Vermont.

The cornerstone of the argument against this ban lies in its projected impact on the state’s economy. Recent analysis from O&W Earmark Allocation and Analysis underscores the tax revenue at risk from banning menthol cigarettes alone amounts to a staggering $8.7 million. When combined with the estimated $6.8 million reduction in revenues from other flavored nicotine products, the total loss could reach an alarming $15.5 million.