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AG Miller commends JUUL plan to limit sales to minors
FDA should focus on encouraging adult smokers to switch to e-cigarettes
I believe that JUUL has announced a good plan to address concerns over sales to minors. The company has been outstandingly successful in helping adult smokers switch from combustible cigarettes, and they don't need sales to adolescents to succeed.
The company's age-verification measures on JUUL.com are strong, and I believe the additional measures announced today are appropriate. JUUL is eliminating its own social media accounts and seeking to remove inappropriate material from third-party accounts. I expect the rest of the industry to follow similar restrictions on age verification and marketing to minors.
I remain concerned, however, about any proposal to limit the sales of fruit flavors. Removing these flavors from retail stores could make it more difficult for smokers to switch, and the results could be tragic. Thirty-four million American adults smoke, and 17 million will die from smoke-related disease. The FDA and other policymakers should focus on encouraging those smokers to switch to a less harmful alternative.
-- Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is the longest serving attorney general in the nation. He was a leader in the $200 billion settlement with the tobacco industry that was signed in November 1998.