New Hampshire, like many states, is grappling with how best to protect youth while addressing adult smoking, still the leading cause of preventable death in both our state and across the United States. As policymakers weigh potential restrictions on flavored tobacco and vapor products, it’s critical to consider both the scientific evidence and the real-world impacts of these measures.
To be clear, I fully support efforts to prevent youth access to all tobacco and nicotine products. But we must also recognize that flavored alternatives—particularly vapor products—are helping adult smokers quit combustible cigarettes, which remain the leading cause of preventable death in both New Hampshire and the U.S. Banning these tools does little to curb youth access and instead strips them from adults striving to lead longer, healthier lives.
In previous commentary, I highlighted that Massachusetts’ ban on menthol cigarettes primarily resulted in increased tax revenue for New Hampshire. Meanwhile, our state’s adult smoking rate declined, as confirmed by data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I also referenced the FDA’s prior intention to regulate nicotine products along a continuum of risk, a strategy endorsed under former Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
Tobacco products do not all carry the same risk. Combustible cigarettes are the most dangerous, while non-combustible alternatives—like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches—are significantly less harmful. E-cigarettes are estimated to be 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes, and nicotine pouches such as Zyn carry risk profiles comparable to FDA-approved nicotine gums.
One anti-tobacco and vape group recently cited the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), noting that 16.7 percent of New Hampshire high school students reported past-month e-cigarette use. However, that includes any student who tried a vape even once in the prior month. The more telling statistic is that daily use was just 5.9 percent, a 37.8 percent drop from 2019. Overall, past-month use is down by more than 50 percent from 2019 levels.
National trends mirror this decline. According to the CDC’s 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, just 7.8 percent of U.S. high school students reported past-month e-cigarette use—a dramatic 63.6 percent reduction from 2019.
Despite these improvements, so-called public health trade groups continue to push for prohibition. They have previously advocated for flavor bans in Vermont and New Hampshire, citing outdated narratives and ignoring recent data.
More recently, the same groups have advocated for increases to Maine’s cigarette tax, which is already $0.22 more per pack than the cigarette tax in the Granite State. This will be another benefit to New Hampshire, with its low cigarette tax benefits from the taxes received from cigarettes smuggled into other states. It is estimated that “for every 100 cigarettes consumed locally in New Hampshire, another 31 are ‘smuggled’ to other locations.”
Regarding banning flavors, it is crucial to understand flavors are not the primary reason youth vape. According to the CDC, the most common reason middle and high school students give for using e-cigarettes is “feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed.” Meanwhile, mental health concerns among youth continue to worsen. In 2023, nearly 40 percent of New Hampshire high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness—more than twice the number who reported vaping. Even more troubling, 21.3 percent of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023, a 15.8 percent increase since 2019.
Yes, we should prevent youth access to age-restricted products. But blanket bans on both combustible and reduced-risk nicotine products ignore the underlying reasons youth experiment—and harm adults who are trying to quit smoking.
Flavors play a critical role in adult smoking cessation and long-term abstinence. This was reinforced by the FDA’s January 2025 authorization of 20 flavored nicotine pouch products, including citrus, cinnamon, and spearmint varieties. Numerous consumer surveys show that flavors help adult smokers transition away from combustible cigarettes and stay smoke-free.
It’s time for public health agencies to acknowledge the facts: youth vaping is declining, adult smoking is at record lows, and harm reduction products are saving lives. In New Hampshire, fewer adults are smoking than ever before—yielding tremendous benefits in health care savings and improved public health.
As a lawmaker, I will continue to advocate for a robust, regulated marketplace that promotes innovation, protects adult choice, and accelerates our transition away from combustible tobacco.
