Key Highlights:
- Several Arizona vape shop owners say they were misled by Altria into appearing as supporters of a bill banning flavored e-cigarettes, despite opposing it.
- The proposed legislation would ban most flavored e-cigarettes, allowing only 34 FDA-approved products made by large tobacco companies.
- Retailers warn that the ban threatens their financial survival, as flavored vapes make up the bulk of their sales.
Several Arizona vape retailers are accusing tobacco giant Altria of using deceptive tactics to gain support for a bill that would ban flavored e-cigarettes, a move they say could devastate their businesses and benefit big tobacco companies.
Senate Bill 1603, which would restrict vape sales to only 34 FDA-authorized tobacco-flavored products—most produced by Altria, RJ Reynolds, and Japan Tobacco International—has sparked outrage among small business owners who say they never knowingly backed it.
“I thought I was signing to get a list of banned flavors,” said Casey Chanda, manager of Adobe Wine & Liquor in Phoenix. “Next thing I know, my store is listed as supporting the bill. Why would I support something that would kill my sales?”
Chanda is one of nearly 40 store owners listed in the legislature’s “Request to Speak” system as a supporter of SB 1603. But an AZcentral investigation found that at least four of five store owners contacted said they were either misled or never consented to be listed.
Retailers say the bill’s passage could cripple their businesses. Phil Butler, manager of Chandler Oil One, estimates flavored vapes make up over half his profit. “We’re talking about $2,500 in net income each month just from those products,” he said. “This is just big tobacco trying to wipe out the little guys who took their market.”
The bill, originally introduced as SB 1272, was repackaged as an amendment to a separate bill after it failed to advance in the Senate. It has since stalled in the House Appropriations Committee, with no hearing yet scheduled.
Supporters of the bill, including Senator Vince Leach and Representative Teresa Martinez, argue that it’s about protecting youth. Martinez displayed vapes designed to resemble toys and drinks at a recent hearing. “They’re clearly targeting children—even adults are fooled by the packaging,” she said.
But opponents argue enforcement gaps and existing regulatory loopholes—not flavor availability—are the real issues. Pharmacist and vape shop owner Alvin Mansar pointed out, “Only 0.6% of nicotine vape users report adverse effects. Vaping is a safer option than cigarettes.”
Some retailers say Altria representatives told them the bill targeted menthol cigarettes, not vapes. “I think they were dishonest from the beginning,” said Mike Takrouri, owner of Party Stop Market in Glendale. Despite requesting to be removed from the supporter list, his name remained there as of April 7.
The FDA recently reaffirmed its authority to regulate flavored vapes following an April 2 Supreme Court ruling, and the issue has gained political traction. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to “save flavored vapes” as part of his campaign.
While SB 1603 remains stalled, Sen. Leach remains hopeful: “The session’s not over. We still have time to move this forward.”
If passed, the law would impose steep fines—up to $1,500 per product per day for retailers, and $10,000 per product for manufacturers—on those who violate its provisions.
Arizona currently lacks a licensing system for vape sales, contributing to widespread availability of flavored products. Retailers worry that without more transparent regulation, policies like SB 1603 could be weaponized to reshape the market in favor of powerful corporations.
“This isn’t about public health,” said Butler. “It’s about eliminating competition.”
