Top Takeaways:
- Eagle becomes Colorado’s 14th town to ban flavored tobacco, joining a growing statewide and national movement.
- Public health advocates say flavors fuel youth nicotine addiction, while the tobacco industry argues they help adults quit smoking.
- Evidence from nearby towns shows bans reduce youth vaping without major economic fallout.
The Eagle Town Council voted 4–2 last week to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, making the community the 14th in Colorado to enact such restrictions.
The ordinance prohibits sales of menthol cigarettes, flavored e-cigarettes, and oral nicotine pouches such as Philip Morris International’s (PMI) ZYN, which comes in varieties like citrus, wintergreen and coffee. Council members said the measure was aimed at limiting products that appeal to minors.
“We see that among students who use e-cigarettes, the overwhelming majority say they do so because of the flavors,” Michelle Hartel of the local group Mountain Youth told the council, citing recent survey data
Part of a Statewide Trend
Eagle joins Aspen, Boulder, Denver, Breckenridge, and other Colorado towns that have adopted flavor bans in recent years. Nationwide, nearly 400 municipalities and six states now restrict flavored tobacco sales, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Public health officials argue the measures work. Jonathan Godes, former mayor of Glenwood Springs, said youth vaping rates there fell by more than half after the city banned flavored tobacco and raised the purchase age to 21 in 2019. “It didn’t close any businesses. There’s still a Smoker Friendly in Glenwood Springs,” he said
Industry Pushback
Retailers and industry representatives warned of economic consequences. A local gas station operator said Eagle could lose roughly $20,000 a month in tobacco tax revenue, with flavored products accounting for the bulk of sales.
PMI, which is building a $600 million Zyn manufacturing plant in Aurora, urged the council to delay a decision. Company spokesperson Amanda Wheeler said PMI works to prevent youth access and stressed that flavors are critical for adult smokers trying to switch to less harmful alternatives.
“Flavors are not a marketing trick. They’re essential to helping adult smokers switch,” added Pritika Kumar, a director with PMI’s U.S. Scientific Engagement Group. She noted that overall tobacco use among youth is at historic lows compared to rising alcohol and cannabis consumption.
Next Steps
The measure passed with council members Ellen Bodenhemier, Bryan Woods, Geoff Grimmer and Jamie Woodworth Foral voting yes, while Mayor Scott Turnipseed and Mayor Pro Tem Mikel Kerst opposed. An implementation date has not yet been set.
For the nicotine industry, Eagle’s decision adds to mounting local restrictions on nicotine products in Colorado, a state where companies like PMI are simultaneously investing heavily in reduced-risk products.
