Jobs at Risk

More than 150,000 jobs would be lost in the independent U.S. vapor industry if the Trump administration moves forward with a ban on flavored vapor products, according to a study released by the Vapor Technology Association (VTA).

Compiled by John Dunham & Associates, the report analyzes sales of flavored vapor products in the independent vapor distribution chain and finds that approximately 91.6 percent of sales of vapor products are flavors other than tobacco (with 85.7 percent being other than tobacco and menthol).

Dunham concludes that “if a flavor ban was implemented, the independent vapor segment of the market would cease to exist in any meaningful way since the vast majority of the 13,480 independent vapor shops in the country (which currently generate 58,430 full-time equivalent jobs) would likely have to close. No business can continue to exist were it to lose 90 percent of its revenue.”

According to Dunham’s analysis, a federal flavor ban would result in the elimination of over 151,850 jobs, decimating the independent vapor products industry. In addition, he said that a federal flavor ban would have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy by causing sales to fall by “about $8.4 billion, and the overall economy would see a $22.4 billion hit.”

The VTA argues for methods that tackle youth vaping without eliminating the independent vapor distribution chain, such as a higher minimum purchase age.