Owners Worry Utah’s New Vaping Rules Could Hurt Business

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Business owners are saying part of a new rule issued by the Utah Department of Health could hurt local vape stores and even force some locations without specialty vapor licenses to close.

Officials said the new rule put in place by the Utah Department of Health and approved by Gov. Gary Herbert is intended to help curb potential future cases of vaping-related illnesses. Part of that rule requires vaping business owners to post a health warning in their stores, which states that “vaping unregulated THC is dangerous to your health.”

For the most part, Utah business owners seemed to be on board with that part.

“Now that they’re actually pushing that narrative, and letting people know, ‘hey, this is what’s making people sick,’ it makes me truly relieved,” said Juan Bravo, president of the Utah Vapor Business Association. “Because during that time a lot of people were stopping using vapor products and e-cigarettes, which according to the royal college of physicians are at least 95% safer than combustible tobacco.”

The second part of the rule, however, was the part causing some controversy among business owners. It bans the sale of flavored e-juices, except by businesses that have specialty vapor licenses.

Ryan Bartlett, spokesman for the Utah Department of Health, said the measure was put in place to try and keep vapor products out of the hands of youth.

“A lot of people who vape unregulated THC product, particularly youth, got their start with flavored nicotine products,” Bartlett said. “So what we’re hoping this rule will do, is keep flavored vape products out of the hands of youth, and it will help to prevent them from moving on to THC products.”

Bravo, however, said the measure could hurt a lot of vape shops that only have standard tobacco licenses, which he said already follow the laws and check IDs.

“The ruling under its current writing could put a lot of businesses out of business,” Bravo said.

Kevin and Andrea Henrie, co-owners of Rebel Goat Vapors, worried they could be in that boat.

“Of our customers, maybe 2% buy tobacco flavor,” Kevin Henrie said. “Adults like candy as well, and a lot of these flavors is what got them off of cigarettes, which we know kills over 400,000 people a year in the United States alone.”

The Henries, as well as other Utah business owners, have until October 7 to comply with the new rule.

“It’s a big concern — (I) just hope they realize what they’re doing,” Kevin Henrie said. “The e-liquids are probably about 65% of our sales.”

“Having this go through is so unconstitutional.” Andrea Henrie added. “It stifles the American dream. I mean, it’s a mom and pop shop.”