The Denver Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee discussed a possible ban of the sale of flavored tobacco products on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

The topic was first brought up on Oct. 6 but was postponed for further discussion. Councilmember Amanda Sawyer began the discussion with a presentation to the other members.

“The youth smoking and vaping epidemic is what we are trying to solve for here,” Sawyer said. “It’s an extraordinary problem, it has been declared an epidemic by the surgeon general of the United States of America.”

Sawyer continued by pointing out the high number of schools within close proximity of smoke shops, the cost of healthcare for those sick due to smoking and the high numbers of deaths related to smoking across the country.

The proposed ordinance would ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products throughout the city and county of Denver, but does exempt FDA-approved cessation devices.

The committee discussed several exemptions for the ban, including hookahs, premium tobacco and cigars, a requirement for enhanced ID verification at stores for any tobacco sales and age restrictions.

Councilmember Kendra Black pushed back heavily against the ban, preferring stricter age restrictions over an all-out ban.

“This is not being done with a scalpel, it’s being done with a sledgehammer,” said Black. “We are going to impact adults and prevent them from being adults and prevent them from buying products that they want, but it’s not going to prevent kids from getting their hands on tobacco products.”

Black compared a ban on flavored tobacco products to alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, pointing out how much of a failure prohibition really was.

The continuing discussion was further postponed until Nov. 17 after a motion by Councilmember Kevin Flynn.