x
Breaking News
More () »

South Portland bans the sale of flavored tobacco products

The South Portland City Council voted 5-2.

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — South Portland has become the next Maine community to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products.

City councilors voted 5-2 Tuesday night in favor of the ban. 

Many people came to the meeting in person and on Zoom to share their thoughts on a flavored tobacco ban.   

For folks like Leah Day, a South Portland resident whose son became addicted to vaping, this vote was personal.

“You’re saving a lot of lives," Day told NEWS CENTER Maine. "These kids could be vaping today and awakening their addictive behavior tomorrow, and so, we’ve stopped a lot of people from going down a very scary road.”

Some South Portland residents believe this ban is wrong and said kids will get flavored tobacco products regardless of a ban.

"You’re not stopping these kids," Sarah Adams argued before the city council. "Taking something away that’s actually helping people, other people, people that are legal to have it, I feel like that’s kind of a lazy way of fixing a problem, isn’t it?" 

This ordinance has already been passed in Portland, Brunswick, and Bangor.

The ban is set to go into effect in April 2023. 

More NEWS CENTER Maine stories

For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app.

Before You Leave, Check This Out