If you're under the age of twenty-five, there's a very high chance that you know what a Juul is and there's a good chance that you have even used one. The company Juul Labs has been undergoing a lot of heat about underage smoking related to their product and they will no longer be supplying stores with it's flavored nicotine pods, and is even going to be removing themselves from social media platforms Facebook and Instagram in pursuit to lessen the popularity of vaping among youth. There have been several critics that believe Juul Labs tactics were directly aimed for minors. There have also been rumors that the FDA will soon ban all flavored nicotine to reduce the amount of young smokers in America. Although this ban by Juul is temporary, I expect that if the results show that the youth smoking rates are going significantly down, a permanent ban to retail stores will be set in stone. The flavored nicotine pods will still be available on the the Juul website sources say, however Juul has adopted new age restrictions for the product banning all sales to anybody under the age of twenty-one nation wide. The FDA released that high school vaping has increased 75% since last year and by 50% for middle school students.
Due to social media, smoking a Juul isn't seen as anything harmful or bad, instead it's something you do in a social setting just to get a buzz and because everyone else is doing it. I have seen twelve year old children smoking Juul's like they are a toy, and I have seen numerous close friends of mine obtain a serious nicotine addiction because of these Juul's and their flavored pods. The idea of E-cigarettes are to make smokers quit, but they are really creating young smokers instead.
Many people are very upset with Juul due to the temporary ban of these flavored pods as to the fact that they have become addicted to them and they have become a part of their everyday lives. The question is, is Juul making the right decision by banning the retail distribution of these flavored pods and yet still selling them online. Growing up, I was always told that people want what they can't have, and having these products taken away from them after they have been exposed to them for so long could potentially just increase the demand and popularity of them among youth, and could even urge underage children to make illegal actions to obtain these Juul pods.
This is the first major move made by the E-Cigarette industry in regards to preventing underage smoking, and it's interesting to see where it will lead and the results of the actions being made.
Souces:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/juul-temporarily-suspends-retail-sales-of-most-flavored-e-cigarettes.html
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/13/18092914/juul-electronic-cigarettes-fda-flavor-ban-social-media
As a college student, it's been incredible seeing how quickly the world has changed and perceptions on smoking have changed due to Juul. The whole purpose of E-cigarettes is to help smokers reduce their smoking habits, and to cut tobacco out of peoples lives. I have family members and friends who have had smoking addictions for years, who say that their Juul has been a life saver to them because they haven't wanted to smoke a cigarette in months. But is the old addiction simply being replaced by a new one?
Due to social media, smoking a Juul isn't seen as anything harmful or bad, instead it's something you do in a social setting just to get a buzz and because everyone else is doing it. I have seen twelve year old children smoking Juul's like they are a toy, and I have seen numerous close friends of mine obtain a serious nicotine addiction because of these Juul's and their flavored pods. The idea of E-cigarettes are to make smokers quit, but they are really creating young smokers instead.
Many people are very upset with Juul due to the temporary ban of these flavored pods as to the fact that they have become addicted to them and they have become a part of their everyday lives. The question is, is Juul making the right decision by banning the retail distribution of these flavored pods and yet still selling them online. Growing up, I was always told that people want what they can't have, and having these products taken away from them after they have been exposed to them for so long could potentially just increase the demand and popularity of them among youth, and could even urge underage children to make illegal actions to obtain these Juul pods.
This is the first major move made by the E-Cigarette industry in regards to preventing underage smoking, and it's interesting to see where it will lead and the results of the actions being made.
Souces:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/juul-temporarily-suspends-retail-sales-of-most-flavored-e-cigarettes.html
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/13/18092914/juul-electronic-cigarettes-fda-flavor-ban-social-media
I feel like the youth population that uses the Juul is still going to find ways to find the flavored Juul pods. I have never used one in my life before, nor will I ever because I think they are really stupid, but that being said I know a lot of people that do use them and it really seems like they are addicted to them and thats why they will do whatever it takes to find the flavored pods. Also I think its clear that Juul was definitely trying to target minors more because of how vulnerable they are.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this point. I have never used one either but the point you made about them finding any way to get their hands on them is true. Nothing will stop them from using them especially if they have an addiction. The marketing done points directly at minors too so I agree with you also on that point.
DeleteGreat post! I feel the same way that you do when it comes to Juul and their effect on the youth population. As cigarettes are age restricted, expensive and extremely dangerous to one's health, I think that the youth population sees Juul as something that is just a cool as smoking but with less or none of the side effects of cigarettes and is easier to obtain. Juuls did not appear to be regulated very well because a large majority of the younger population now vapes and are getting addicted to nicotine. Juul also has a large amount of nicotine within each pods which means that it is much easier to get addicted. I think their marketing is great with all the different flavored Juul pods but they could have done a much better job regulating the purchases of Juuls because they are now purchased by minors who weren't smokers before. I agree with what Simon said above that Juul was definitely trying to target minors. As much as they try to deny it, the fact is that they didn't take steps earlier to prevent minors from purchasing their products until after they came under fire from the FDA. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI think that coming out and saying that they were targeting minors would be extremely bad for their company so that's why they didn't say it. I feel like the FDA putting pressure on them was a huge escape goat for them because it allowed them to stop what they had been doing and to change the way they were marketing to look like they weren't doing it intentionally all along.
DeleteGreat first blog to explain the ethical situation clearly. I also agree with you on the claim of social media making the JUUL seem docile and not harmful. JUUL created a movement in youth smoking that needs to be stoped. JUUL marketing the multiple flavors is the aspect of the device that appeals to the youth, I agree with that claim. I also think JUUL must restrict the flavors even if it makes addicted users aggravated. If JUUL were to fight the FDA in restricting flavors do you think the FDA could win?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the FDA would 100% win. I don't think anyone is going to shut the FDA up and especially with all the data being proved about underage smoking correlated with the Juul, it wouldn't go in Juul Labs favor.
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