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US: Louisville City Council to Issue Licences For Vape Retailers

The Louisville Metro Council recently amended the local smoke-free law, requiring retailers who sell tobacco and vaping products to be in possession of licences.

Diane Caruana

January 11, 2022

The newly added section (LMCO 90.11) requires tobacco and vape retailers in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, to be in possession of the licenses by January 1st, 2022. These licenses will then be renewed annually for a fee of $10, while initial applications will also include a one-time $25 payment.

A release on the local government’s website explained that the goal of the local licensing system, is ensuring that retailers comply with tobacco control laws and business standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our residents and youth.

“The licensing is required for any retailer who sells any of the following products:

Tobacco
Tobacco products (i.e. cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, etc.)
Tobacco paraphernalia (i.e., wrappers, pipes, rollers, etc.)
Electronic smoking devices (i.e. vape pens, e-cigarettes, e-hookah)”

House Bill 32

The new tax will increase prices for cartridge-based e-cigarettes by $1.50 per pod, and containers of refillable e-cigarette liquid by 15% of the wholesale price.

Meanwhile last February, State Rep. Jerry Miller, R-Louisville, presented an amendment on his House Bill 32, agreeing to lower tax increases which equate to a lower revenue gain for the state budget than the $94 million promised by the original version. President of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Ben Chandler, thinks that the tax increases are a step in the right direction as they discourage teens to purchase the products. “A significant tax bump reduces consumption,” he said.

“These kids are as young as 11 and 12 years old,” added Chandler referring to those trying vaping. “And they are experimenting with a product containing high levels of nicotine and made in such a way that it can hook them almost overnight, subjecting them to a lifelong addiction that is among the most difficult addictions on Earth to break.”

Going into effect this week, the new excise tax on vaping products will increase prices for cartridge-based e-cigarettes by $1.50 per pod, and containers of refillable e-cigarette liquid will be taxed at 15% of the wholesale price.

Bonnie Hackbarth, lead staff member with the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow said that research has shown that increasing the price of nicotine products, deters people from using them. “Before the Food and Drug Administration’s partial ban on flavored e-cigarettes even began,” said Hackbarth, “Companies had already introduced products that took advantage of one of the loopholes, and that’s disposable e-cigarettes. And this tax will apply to those as well.”