Article: Eagle, Colorado Becomes 14th Town in State to Ban Flavored Nicotine
Eagle, Colorado Becomes 14th Town in State to Ban Flavored Nicotine
The Town of Eagle, Colorado, has voted to ban the sale of flavored nicotine products, becoming the 14th community in the state to pass such restrictions. The ordinance, approved by a 4–2 vote of the Town Council, prohibits sales of menthol cigarettes, flavored e-cigarettes, and oral nicotine pouches such as Philip Morris International’s ZYN, which comes in varieties like citrus, coffee, and wintergreen.
Council members and local advocates say the measure is designed to limit access to products they believe are fueling youth nicotine use.
Part of a Statewide Trend
Eagle now joins Aspen, Boulder, Denver, Breckenridge, and other towns in Colorado that have implemented local bans on flavored tobacco. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, nearly 400 municipalities and six states nationwide have adopted similar restrictions.
Public health officials point to local success stories as evidence the bans work. In Glenwood Springs, for example, youth vaping rates reportedly fell by more than half after the city banned flavored tobacco and raised the legal purchase age to 21 in 2019.
“It didn’t close any businesses. There’s still a Smoker Friendly in Glenwood Springs,” said Jonathan Godes, the town’s former mayor.
Pushback from Retailers and Industry
Not everyone supports the ban. Local business owners warn of economic consequences. One gas station operator estimated Eagle could lose $20,000 a month in tobacco tax revenue, with flavored products making up the bulk of sales.
Philip Morris International (PMI), currently investing $600 million into a new ZYN pouch production facility near Denver, also urged the council to reconsider. Company representatives argued that flavors are essential to helping adult smokers move away from traditional cigarettes.
“Flavors are not a marketing trick. They’re essential to helping adult smokers switch,” said Pritika Kumar, Director of PMI’s U.S. Scientific Engagement Group. She also pointed out that youth tobacco use is at historic lows, while alcohol and cannabis use among teens remain more prevalent.
Next Steps
The measure passed with support from council members Ellen Bodenhemier, Bryan Woods, Geoff Grimmer, and Jamie Woodworth Foral. Mayor Scott Turnipseed and Mayor Pro Tem Mikel Kerst voted against it.
An implementation date has not yet been announced.
What It Means
For Eagle, the decision places the town firmly in line with Colorado’s broader public health movement aimed at restricting flavored nicotine. For the nicotine industry, it marks another challenge in a state where companies like PMI are simultaneously expanding investment in reduced-risk products.
The tension reflects a national debate: whether flavored nicotine products primarily drive youth addiction, or whether they serve as a key tool for adult smokers seeking alternatives. As Eagle prepares to enforce its new ordinance, both sides of that debate will be watching closely.
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