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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | The Indian Eye 16

Mayor Adams Announces Lawsuit Against

Major Online Distributor For Illegally Selling

Disposable Flavored E-Cigarettes

Lawsuit Accuses Long Island Company of Selling Illegal E-Cigarettes in

New York City and Across the Nation

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric Adams and New
York City Acting Corporation Counsel Mu-
Nriel Goode-Trufant have announced that the
City of New York has filed a federal lawsuit today
against a major distributor of disposable flavored
e-cigarettes, popularly known as “vapes” — the
most popular devices for nicotine use among mid-
dle and high school youth. The defendant — Price
Point Distributors, Inc., based in Farmingdale, Long
Island — is accused of distributing e-cigarettes with
flavors such as snow cone, strawberry shortcake, and
Hawaii Punch to retail stores and directly to con-
sumers in New York City and around the country
through online sales, violating nearly every applica-
ble federal, New York state, and New York City law
governing the sale of such products.
Today’s lawsuit seeks to block Price Point Dis-
tributors, Inc., from further sales of these illegal
items, seeks both monetary damages and fines, and
marks the latest effort by the Adams administration
to curb illegal sales of flavored e-cigarettes, which
are appealing and addictive, especially to teens.
“Part of protecting public safety means protect- school students will not be tolerated by the City of Prevention and Intervention Specialists. I want to
ing the health of New Yorkers, including our most New York.” thank Mayor Adams for taking action on this critical
vulnerable — our children, who are more suscepti- “Protecting the health of our young people, and issue, and I look forward to continuing to partner
ble to nicotine addiction, especially when products of all New Yorkers, is among our highest priorities,” with our parents and school communities to keep
are flavored to make the taste less harsh,” said May- said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services our kids safe, healthy, and free from the dangers of
or Adams. “Protecting young New Yorkers means Anne Williams-Isom. “Today’s action helps us do vaping.”
stubbing out illegal vape and e-cigarette sales that that by cracking down on illegal distributors of vap- “The Sheriff’s Office is proud to stand with
target them. Today’s lawsuit alleges that Price Point ing products — products we know often make their Mayor Adams in the continuous effort to remove
Distributors knew it was breaking laws by selling way into the hands of our young people. Whether these dangerous products from the hands of our
flavored cigarettes to New Yorkers, and even took through regulatory, legal, or other action, we will youth,” said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miran-
measures to conceal these illegal sales from federal, continue to fight every day for the health and wellbe- da. “The dangers that these flavored vape products
state, and local authorities. This lawsuit, as well as our ing of every person that calls New York City home.” pose for our youth are serious. The flavors, colors,
continued efforts to shut down illegal smoke shops, “These illegal sales signify an indifference to and common icons are targeting our youth and cre-
go hand-in-hand with the work our administration New Yorkers’ laws and health, especially the health ate an addictive habit that may cause lasting health
is doing to bring down overall crime in our city.” of teens, who are particularly susceptible to the al- concerns. Our officers have been removing these il-
“It is illegal to sell flavored e-cigarettes in New lure of flavored e-cigarettes,” said New York City legal products from the shelves since they were first
York City,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stod- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Interim banned in New York City, and we cannot allow man-
dart. “With this lawsuit, the Adams administration Commissioner Michelle Morse. “We are committed ufacturers to continue bringing them back into our
is continuing to hold companies accountable when to prioritizing young people’s health and safety over communities.”
they put profits over the health of New Yorkers.” unfettered corporate interests. Preventing the sale “Flavored e-cigarettes are not only illegal in
“As alleged in the city’s complaint, defendants of flavored vapes helps protect youth from nicotine New York City, they pose a great danger to our
are abusing our laws and undermining public dependence and other adverse health outcomes.” children’s health and wellbeing,” said New York
health,” said New York City Acting Corporation “Vaping is incredibly dangerous and can lead to City Department of Consumer and Worker Protec-
Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “By selling dispos- a lifetime of nicotine addiction,” said New York City tion (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga.
able vapes with kid-friendly flavors — such as cotton Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “DCWP works hard to prevent these devices from
candy, raspberry watermelon, and cherry cola — de- “At New York City Public Schools, we are commit- being sold at retailers around the city, and we’re
fendants are putting profit before the wellbeing of ted to combating this trend head-on through target- grateful to our partners at the Law Department and
young people. Flouting the law and fueling an epi- ed interventions, initiatives like CATCH My Breath Mayor Adams for going after the source of these
demic of nicotine addiction among middle and high NYC, and a dedicated cohort of Substance Abuse dangerous products.”

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